Effect of partial root drying technique and fertigation on pest and diseases of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Cv. Bhagwa

Abstract

A investigation was conducted to study the effect of partial root drying technique and fertigation on major pest and diseases of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Cv. Bhagwa was carried out through a field experiment. The experiment comprising of 8 treatments, T1 is a partial root drying technique that requires 100% water and 100% nutrition (NPK); T2 is a partial root drying technique that requires 100% water and 75% nutrition (NPK); T3: Half-drying method (75% water needed) + 100% nutrition through fertigation using 100% RDF of NPK; T4: Half-drying method (75% water needed) + 75% nutrition through fertigation using 75% RDF of NPK; T5: 50% water need for partial root drying + 100% nutrition through fertigation with 100% RDF of NPK, T6: 50% water need for partial root drying + 75% nutrition through fertigation with 75% RDF of NPK, T7: Management, or standard drip irrigation (requiring 100% water) and 100% nutrition through fertigation using 100% RDF of NPK, T8: Control, or standard drip irrigation with 100% water need on both plant sides with 75% nutrition through fertigation using 75% RDF of NPK. In pooled data of two years, minimum incidence of bacterial blight (5.28%) and fusarium wilt (6.24%) was observed in I1 (PRD100) and I2 treatment (PRD75). Minimum incidence of bacterial blight (5.81%) and fusarium wilt (14.55%) was recorded in N1 treatment (RDF100). The minimum incidence of bacterial blight (5.15%) and fusarium wilt (4.16%) was noticed in T5 treatment. Coming to pest infestation, minimum fruit borer incidence (3.65%) and aphid incidence (7.74%) was observed in I3 (PRD50). Minimum fruit borer incidence (4.50%) and aphid incidence (9.61%) was recorded in N2 treatment (RDF75). In interaction effect of fertigation and irrigation, the minimum fruit borer incidence (3.51%) and aphid incidence (7.65%) was noticed in T6 treatment.