MICRO IRRIGATION PRACTICES IN STRAWBERRY (FRAGARIA X ANANASSA) - Management, Performance, and Applications of Micro Irrigation Systems - page 220

nonmulched condition (4015 kg.ha -1 ), however, the yield under paddy straw (4590 kg.
ha -1 ) and nonmulched (4207 kg.ha -1 ) was next in order to drip with polythene mulch
but were significantly at par among themselves. When calculated the percentage in-
crease the drip with polythene mulch gave 25% higher yield than surface with non-
mulched condition. Similarly, the water use efficiency (WUE) was highest in drip
irrigation with polythene mulch (7.7 kg ha -1 mm -1 ) as compared to surface irrigation
(5.1 kg ha -1 mm -1 ). The fruit yield of strawberry under drip irrigation was found to be
4607 kg.ha -1 compared to 4015 kg.ha -1 under surface irrigation. Moreover, polythene
mulch plus drip irrigation further raised the yields. Fruit weight increased significantly
while other analyzed quality characteristics did not differ significantly among treat-
ments. Drip irrigation besides giving a saving of 50-55% irrigation water resulted in
20-40% higher yield of crops studied.

KEYWORDS

• Bihar - India

• Black polythene

• Drip irrigation

• Home garden

• India

• Mulch

• Paddy straw

• Polythene mulch

• Rs = Indian rupees = US$0.0167

• Strawberry

• Tomato

• Water use efficiency

REFERENCES
1. Ashworth, S., Harrison, H., (1983). Evaluation of mulches for use in the home garden. Horticul-
ture Science, 18:180-182.
2. Bhella, H. S. (1998). Tomato response to trickle irrigation and black polythene mulch. J. Am.
Soc. Horticulture Sci., 13(4):543-546.
3. Malik, R. S., Kumar, K., Bhandari, A. R. (1994). Effect of urea application through drip ir-
rigation system on nitrate distribution in loamy sand and pea yield. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci.,
42(2):6-10.
4. Mishra, S. K. (1982). Standardization of the agro-techniques of strawberry ( Fragaria x anan-
assa , Duch. Cv. Tioga). Ph.D. Thesis, HPKV, Palampur.
5. Raina, J. N., Thakur, B. C., Sephia, R. (2004). Effective of mulches on soil hydrothermal re-
gimes, root growth, yield and quality of strawberry. Ann. Pl. Soil Res., 126-130.
6. Rolbiecki, S., Rzekanowski, C., Scheer, D., Lieten, F. and Dijkstra, J. (1997). Influence of sprin-
kler and drip irrigation on the growth and yield of strawberry grown on sandy soils. Acta Horti-
culture, 43(9):669-672.