Effect of levels and application methods of irrigation and mulch materials on strawberry production in North-West Himalayas

A field experiment was carried out during 1999–2001 at Nauni, Solan (H.P.) in a sandy loam Inceptisol to study the comparative effects of drip and surface irrigation, with and without mulch on irrigation requirement, yield, quality and water-use efficiency of ‘Chandlar’ strawberry (Fragaria ananassa). Drip irrigation at 1.0 ‘V’ volume of water (100% crop ET) gave significantly higher fruit yield (57.07 q ha⁻¹) compared with the surface irrigation (47.17 q ha⁻¹). Black polyethylene mulch plus drip irrigation further raised the yield to 78.63 q ha⁻¹. Grass mulch (irrespective of irrigation methods) increased the fruit size, sugar content, TSS/acidity ratio and anthocyanin content as compared to BP mulch. However, TSS and acidity were maximum in rainfed un-mulched treatment. Average seasonal irrigation requirement of strawberry with drip irrigation but without mulch was 475 mm which decreased to 440 and 403 mm with grass and BP mulch. The corresponding values under surface irrigation were 696, 660 and 608 mm. Water-use efficiency under drip irrigation without mulch, drip plus grass mulch and drip plus BP mulch was 7.5, 8.8 and 11.4 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹, respectively, whereas, respective values under surface irrigation were 4.7, 5.7 and 7.1 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹. Drip irrigation, besides saving 51% irrigation water, resulted in about 19% higher fruit yield compared with the surface irrigation.