Efficient utilization of harvested rain water in Jalkund through gravity fed drip irrigation and mulching for higher productivity and quality of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa ) in mid- altitude of North East Indian Himalayas

Abstract

A field study was conducted during winter seasons of three consecutive years (2009-10 to 2011-12) at Umaim, Meghalaya (950 m ASL) to study the effect of drip irrigation and mulching measures on the productivity and quality of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch) variety ‘Festival’. Two types of mulches (plastic mulch and straw mulch) were used in the experiment with four gravity fed drip irrigation levels i.e., control, 0.8 Epan, 1.0 Epan and 1.2 Epan. Soil moisture content monitored (0-20 cm soil depth) during crop growing phases at 15 days intervals were found higher under plastic mulch and 1.2 Epan than other treatments. Among the mulches, plastic mulch recorded significantly higher berry yield (5.76 t/ha) over straw mulch (5.6 t/ha). The yield attributing parameters were also found to be higher under plastic mulch. However, the type of mulch material had minimal influence on the physicochemical parameters of fruits. Drip irrigation at 1.0 Epan combined with plastic mulch was found superior for higher yield and yield attributing parameters, specific gravity, juice density, juice percentage, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin and total sugar content in strawberry over the other levels of irrigation and mulching combination. Thus, irrigation at 1.0 Epan along with plastic mulching is recommended for higher productivity, water use efficiency and quality of strawberry at mid-altitude of north eastern Indian Himalayas.