Enhancing the Fruit Yield and Quality in Pomegranate: Insights into Drip Irrigation and Mulching Strategies
Author:
Beelagi Ranjitha1, Singh Vijay P.1, Jat Rajkumar1, Singh Pramod Kumar2, Rai Ratna1, Singh Akath3ORCID, Basile Boris4ORCID, Mataffo Alessandro4ORCID, Corrado Giandomenico4ORCID, Kumar Pradeep3
Affiliation:
1. Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263145, India 2. Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, College of Technology, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263145, India 3. Division of Integrated Farming System, ICAR—Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur 342003, India 4. Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
Abstract
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a fruit tree that is globally distributed, especially in warm areas with low annual rainfall and limited water availability. This species exemplifies the critical role of water in agriculture and the need for efficient irrigation practices due to its characteristics, cultivation requirements, and geographic diffusion. In this study, we investigated the effects of drip irrigation and mulching on the vegetative growth, yield, and fruit quality attributes of pomegranate. The experiment involved three irrigation regimes (100% of evapotranspiration, 80%, and 60%) and three mulching treatments (no mulch, plastic mulch, and organic mulch) in a factorial combination. Both irrigation and mulching had significant positive influences on the yield and fruit quality attributes. Specifically, deficit irrigation strategies showed a negative impact on the fruit yield per tree, with a greater effect observed as the severity of the irrigation deficit increased. Mulching, on the other hand, led to a significant increase in the fruit yield, primarily attributed to an increase in fruit size. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that irrigation and mulching treatments had distinct effects on fruit traits such as the fruit length, width, volume, and rind thickness. Interestingly, the study highlighted that the effects of irrigation and mulching on fruit quality attributes were mostly independent of each other, suggesting an additive influence rather than an interaction between the two factors. These findings underscore the importance of considering irrigation and mulching practices for optimizing fruit quality in pomegranate cultivation, particularly in semi-arid regions. The results contribute valuable insights for farmers and researchers seeking to enhance fruit production and quality.
Subject
Plant Science,Ecology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
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