Effect of basin and drip irrigation on growth, yield and water use efficiency in pomegranate cv. Ganesh

Field experiments were conducted to study the response of pomegranate cv. Ganesh to different evaporation replenishment rates under drip and basin and drip irrigation + mulch and basin irrigation + mulch systems. The results revealed that plant height, stem girth and plant spread were higher with drip irrigation than basin irrigation. Irrigation levels did not influence plant growth. The number of fruits, both A and B grade, were higher with drip irrigation than with basin irrigation in both the years. Average fruit weight and 100 aril weight was not influenced by level of irrigation. Lower number of B grade fruits in 2001 and A grade fruits in 2002 was recorded with 0.6 of IW/CPE ratio than 0.8 of IW/CPE ratio. Fruit yield was significantly higher with drip irrigation than basin irrigation during second year of imposition of treatments. Fruit yield of pomegranate was not influenced by level of irrigation. Providing groundnut shells as mulch did not improve the fruit yield. Irrigation with drip system was found better for higher growth and yield of pomegranate.