Fruit Research Station, Chianki, Daltonganj
Three intervals (8, 12 and 16 days) of irrigation with no mulching, mulching by hoeing, sugarcane leaves and black polyethelene film were tried with Nagpur Santra (C. reticulata) for three years at Fruit Research Station, Chianki in Bihar. Black polyethelene film was found most effective for conserving the soil moisture, reducing the June drop and increasing the total yield of fruits per tree. However, there was no definite trend in effect of different treatments on fruit set. Growth of the tree was also superior in black polyethelene mulch with all most all the three intervals of irrigation. Prolonging the interval from 12 days to 16 days without mulch proved deterimental for tree growth and yield. The experiment suggested that with the use of polyethelene mulch irrigation interval can safely be increased from 8 days to 12 days.
