Estimation of Water Requirement of Litchi Crop Under Micro Irrigation

摘要

Young 8 years old litchi trees (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) were subjected to 6 micro-irrigation treatments, viz., irrigation to replenish 100% by dripper and inline dripper, 75% by dripper, inline dripper, dripper plus mulching and inline dripper plus mulching evapotranspiration (ET). The control trees did not receive any supplemental irrigation. Irrigation with a pre-set volume was applied 100% by dripper and inline drippers 75% by three drippers and inline drippers/ tree. Irrigation was applied at 1 day interval. Irrigation affected yield and cracking significantly. All parameters (fruit set, fruit retention, fruit cracking, yield and other attributes) showed marked increase due to irrigation treatment over control. The best response in case of 8th year old tree was observed with 100% ET replacement. The result indicated that ET replacement's trees fruit yield and quality of fruit were best in comparison with control.