WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF CHRYSANTHEMUM CROP FOR DIFFERENT MULCHES UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN SEMI ARID REGIONS

D. JAWAHARLAL¹*, G. MANOJ KUMAR², M. SRINIVASULU³, A. MANOHAR RAO^4
1Department of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering, Jayshankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Sangareddy, 502329
²Department of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering, Jayshankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Sangareddy, 502329
³Department of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering, Jayshankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Sangareddy, 502329
⁴Department of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering, Jayshankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Sangareddy, 502329
* Corresponding Author : jawahardharavath@gmail.com

Received : 23-01-2017     Accepted : 31-01-2017     Published : 18-02-2017
Volume : 9     Issue : 8       Pages : 3859 - 3861
Int J Agr Sci 9.8 (2017):3859-3861

Keywords : Chrysanthemum crop, Drip irrigation, Mulches and Water use efficiency
Academic Editor : Basavaraj Patil
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors thankful to Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad
Author Contribution : All Authors helped in research work and article preparation

The A field experiment was conducted at Precision Farming Development Centre, college farm, The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three drip irrigation levels as main plot treatments (viz., I1- Drip irrigation at 1.0E pan, I2- Drip irrigation 0.8E pan, I3- Drip irrigation 0.6E pan) and four mulches (viz., M1-no mulch, M2- paddy straw, M3- black plastic mulch, M4- dried leaves) as sub treatments and were replicated thrice. The experimental soil was sandy clay loam in texture with low in available nitrogen and high in available phosphorus and potassium. Moisture content was estimated under all three main plot treatments and four subplot treatments. Higher moisture was observed below black plastic mulch and lowest moisture observed below the no mulch condition. Drip irrigation scheduled at 0.6E pan recorded higher water use efficiency (111.09 kg ha-1 mm-1). The least WUE was observed in drip irrigation at 1.0E pan. On the other hand maximum WUE was recorded with application of polythene mulch (113.5 kg ha-1 mm-1), While the least was recorded with no mulch (90.43 kg ha-1 mm-1). This study is concluded that drip irrigation scheduling at 1.0 E pan with application of polythene mulch will be the best combination for getting higher chrysanthemum flower yield and net income under the present agro climatic conditions of semi-arid tropics.