Improving fruit productivity of Kinnow mandarin (Citrus reticulate Blanco) through rainwater conservation practice for sloppy degraded lands of Doon Valley.

An experiment was conducted during 2004–2006 on four year old mandarin plant to improve fruit productivity of Kinnow mandarin through rainwater conservation practices on sloppy degraded lands of Doon Valley. Rainwater conservation practices studied were T₁ =Continuous trench + FYM + mulch, T₂=Continuous trench + FYM + without mulch, T₃ = Staggered trench + FYM + mulch, T₄ = Staggered trench + FYM + without mulch and T₅ = convention method (control). Results revealed that Kinnow mandarin planted in continuous trench with mulch produced 53, 68, 26 and 33% more tree volume, fruit yield, fruit weight and number of fruits tree⁻¹, respectively with minimum flower & fruit drops (59.26 & 48.41%) followed by continuous trench without mulch, staggered trench with and without mulch as compared to control plot (without conservation practice). Average soil moisture from October to June (2004–2006) recorded was maximum (8.12 cm) under continuous trench followed by continuous trench without mulch (7.74 cm) and staggered trench with (7.12 cm) as compared to control (6.0 cm) in 100 cm soil profile (without moisture conservation practice).