Mulch bed system for improving water use efficiency of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) on a light texture soil in Deccan Plateau

A field experiment was carried out during two successive seasons (2019 and 2020) at Solapur, Maharashtra, India in hasta bahar with Bhagawa pomegranate cultivar, which corresponded to trees 6th and 7th years-old to study the effect of different irrigation levels and inorganic mulching on vegetative growth and productivity. The experiment consisted of main treatments of five irrigation levels for each year of pomegranate tree (i.e. 50 to 90 and 60 to 100% *pomegranate evapotranspiration (ET ) for 6th and 7th year- p old tree, respectively) and sub-treatments of different inorganic mulches (i.e. M -no 0 mulch (control), M -black mulch, M -black and white mulch and M -previous/weed 1 2 3 mat mulch). The actual water applied in different mulching treatments is 50-10% less than the actual water demand due to the reduced wet evaporative surface. The actual and deficit water requirement (WR) ranged from 18.50 to 35.50 and 22.60 to 45.20 Lday-1tree-1 at various phenological stages. Maximum plant height, leaf area index (LAI), plant canopy spread (E-W and N-S), no. of fruits per tree and fruit weight was the best at irrigation levels of 70% and 80%*ET for 6th and 7th years old tree, respec- p tively. The study revealed that inorganic mulch (i.e. previous/weed mat) enhanced vegetative growth and yield contributing characteristics. Based on a statistical analysis of yield contributing characteristics, it was inferred that the treatment combination comprising of previous/weed mat mulch and irrigation levels of 70% and 80% *ET with alternate p day irrigation resulted in higher yield and WUE as compared to other treatments for 6th and 7th years old age pomegranate trees, respectively. The previous/weed mat mulch with drip irrigation treatment was found to be a more effective method in improving WUE and increasing pomegranate yield. It is concluded from the study that, inorganic mulch (i.e. previous/weed mat) is the better technological option for improving crop productivity.