Vol. 9, Issue 8 (2020)

Author(s):
PS Pawar, NR Dalal and BR Bhite

Abstract:
A field experiment on identification of critical stage of water requirement in acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) under Western Maharashtra cv. Phule Sharbati was carried out at All India Coordinated Research Project on Fruits, Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri during the period 2014-15 to 2018-19. The results obtained that the effect of different levels of irrigation at different stages on growth, yield and fruit quality of acid lime were significant. The maximum plant height (3.00 m), canopy volume (21.08 m³), fruit weight (47.16 g), number of fruits (799.12 fruits/tree), fruit yield (38.01 kg/tree and 10.52 t/ha), juice content (48.64%), acidity (6.70%), ascorbic acid (33.85 mg/100 ml juice) and B:C ratio (1.54) were recorded in the treatment T₇ i. e. application of irrigation water at 80:80:80:80:80:80 ER % from stage-I (January-February) to stage-VI (November-December). From the results, it is recommended that irrigation at 80% evaporation through drip for all growing period (January-December) is better for growth, yield and quality fruits with efficient utilization of irrigation water in acid lime under Western Maharashtra condition. Stage-I (January-February) to stage-III (May-June) are recommended as critical stages with respect to irrigation in acid lime for Western Maharashtra.