Effect of water regime, mulch and reflectant on flowering, fruiting and yield of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) cv. Mundia

A field experiments were conducted on loamy sand soil at Jobner (Jaipur, Rajasthan, India) for two consecutive years. The experiment consisted of 24 treatment combinations comprised of 3 water regimes as main plot treatments and combinations of 4 mulches and kaolin (reflectant) spray as sub-plot treatments laid out in split-plot design with 4 replications. Increasing the level of water application significantly increased the flowering and fruiting attributes (days taken to 50% flowering, duration of flowering, number of pickings, duration of fruiting and per cent fruit set). Among various mulches, black polythene exhibited maximum values for flowering and fruiting characteristics and fruit yield, whereas kaolin (6% spray) increased duration of flowering and fruiting, per cent fruit set and fruit yield and reduced per cent fruit drop. The treatment combination, 15 cm depth of three irrigations plus black polythene resulted in maximum values for days taken to 50% flowering, duration of flowering, per cent fruit set and fruit yield (q ha⁻¹).