Authors: Priyanka Agnihotri, Utsav Bhapkar, Madhuri Nimse, Aniket Nagare, Tanish Torpe, Vaibhav Kothawade
Abstract: Pomegranate cultivation in many regions of India continues to rely on traditional flood irrigation because of its simplicity and low initial cost. However, this method often leads to excessive water use, non-uniform soil moisture distribution, and nutrient losses through runoff and deep percola-tion. These conditions adversely affect root health and increase the incidence of fruit cracking, reduced fruit size, and yield variability. To overcome these limitations, drip irrigation has emerged as a more efficient alternative for pomegranate farming. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone at a controlled rate, allowing irrigation to closely match crop water requirements and maintain soil moisture within the optimal range. Uniform moisture supply during critical stages such as flowering and fruit development reduces moisture fluctuations, improves nutrient uptake, and enhances plant vigor. Field observations indicate that drip irrigation can reduce water con-sumption by 35–45%, lower energy use, and decrease labor requirements compared to flood irrigation. Overall, the adoption of drip irrigation improves water-use efficiency, yield stability, and sustainability of pomegranate production under water-limited conditions.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20927977
