Effect of drip irrigation and plant spacing on yield, quality and economic return of guava (Psidium guajava']java L.) grown in saline soil

Field studies were conducted at research farm of CIPHET, Abohar to study the effect of drip irrigation system on yield, quality and economic return of guava production in saline soil having pH 8.18 and EC 0.95 minhos cm(-1). Newly planted orchard of guava cv. Allahabad Safeda, planted at 5x5 m and 6x6m in square system were selected for the experiment. Plants were irrigated with canal water using drip and flood irrigation systems. The results revealed that the drip irrigated guava plants started bearing at 3(rd) year of planting, whereas flood irrigated plants after fourth year of planting. The drip-irrigated planted guava at 6x6m, produced 8.31 t ha(-1) and 15.0 t ha(-1), whereas at 5x5m, 12.0 and 21.60 t ha(-1) after 3(rd) and 4(th) year of planting. The guava plants planted at 5x5m had higher irrigation production 3 efficiency (6.79 kg m(-3)) than 6x6m (4.70 kg m(-3)). Fruit weight (161.3g) and TSS (11.7 degrees B) and total sugars (10.71%) and vitamin C (211.40 mg 100g(-1) pulp) contents were superior in fruits obtained from drip-irrigated plants as compared to flood-irrigated ones. There was non-significant effect of spacing on quality parameters. However, plant spacing affected the installation cost of drip irrigation system and the annual production cost which varied between the years. The highest production cost (Rs. 68,764 ha(-1)), net profit (Rs. 82,346 ha(-1)) as well as cost benefit ratio (2.20) were higher at 5x5 m distance. The results indicated that the drip irrigation has a significant role in increasing productivity as well as economic return of guava in saline soil at the planting distance of 5x5 m plant spacing.