EFFECT OF DRIP IRRIGATION AND FERTIGATION ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY UNDER PROTECTED CULTIVATION
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Date
2017-06
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CSHHPKV Palampur
Abstract
The present study was conducted at experimental farm of CSK HPKV, Palampur, during
the year 2015-16 with the objectives of evaluating the effects of drip irrigation and NK
fertigation levels on soil water retention and transmission, plant water, water use efficiency,
growth, productivity, quality and nutrient uptake of strawberry under protected condition. The
treatments comprised of, (a) Three drip irrigation levels, DI0.6 (Daily drip irrigation at 60 per
cent of open pan evaporation), DI0.8 (Daily drip irrigation at 80 per cent of open pan
evaporation) and DI1.0 (Daily drip irrigation at 100 per cent of open pan evaporation), (b)
Three NK fertigation levels viz., NK50 (50 per cent of RDF of which 25 per cent applied as
basal and rest 75 per cent through fertigation at weekly interval), NK75 (75 per cent of RDF
of which 25 per cent applied as basal and rest 75 per cent through fertigation at weekly
interval) and NK100 (100 per cent of RDF of which 25 per cent applied as basal and rest 75
per cent through fertigation at weekly interval) and (c) Control (C)- 100 per cent RDF
applied through conventional method (1/2 N and full PK as basal and remaining 1/2 N in
equal split at monthly intervals) with drip irrigation at 1.0 PE. The strawberry cv. Chandler
was transplanted on October 03, 2015. The results indicated that DI1.0 and DI0.8 treatment had
higher soil water content, soil water stock, profile water recharge in comparison to DI0.6. The
DI1.0 treatment due to favorable soil moisture regimes led to higher relative leaf water content
and TSS content and NPK uptake while WUE and vitamin C were higher in DI0.6. In case of
different NK fertigation treatment, NK100 and NK75 had higher root growth, leaf area index,
WUE, FEE, fruit length, breadth and weight, TSS content and higher marketable yield as
compared to NK50 treatment. The study concluded that fertigation application of 100 per cent
RDF at 0.6 PE level resulted in higher water use efficiency and saving irrigation water.
However, the maximum marketable yield, gross and net returns and highest B:C ratio
was obtained with DI0.8 NK100.