Journal of Krishi Vigyan

Pomegranate is an economically important fruit crop of arid and semiarid regions owing to its immense medicinal, therapeutic values and high remuneration. A study was conducted to note down response of pomegranate (Punicagranatum L.) to saline water irrigation under arid conditions. A survey in pomegranate growing belt in Barmer district of Rajasthan revealed perceptible changes in soil conditions and irrigation water quality within 10km of radius. Per say EC and RAC of irrigation water ranged from 1.5 to 12.0 dsm^-1 and 0.0 to 6.8meq L^-1, respectively, however soil pH ranged from 7.35 to 9.9. The present study aimed to give supplemental knowledge about response of pomegranate to normal, moderate and high salinity of irrigation water under arid conditions. It was observed that there was not much negative effect of salinity up to 8 dS/m. However, trees irrigated with higher saline water (>8 ds/m) showed drastic reduction in plant height and canopy spread compared to low and moderate saline water. Even with moderate saline irrigation water plant height and canopy spread was slightly higher compared to low level of saline irrigation water but fruit weight, yield and juice yield decreased.