Impact of Combined Application of Irrigation, Fertilization along with Mulching on Soil and Leaf Nutrient Dynamics, Fruit Yield and Quality of Mango cv. Banganpalli

Abstract

Soil moisture and nutrients are critical for agricultural productivity, especially in arid and semiarid regions where they limit crop growth. This study examines the combined use of irrigation, mulching, and fertigation in southern Telangana, India, to enhance water and nutrient availability, assessing soil and leaf nutrient dynamics, fruit yield, and quality of mango. The present experiment conducted over two years with 16 treatments replicated thrice, it includes four irrigation (basin irrigation at 1.2 m³/plant every 10 days, drip at 75%, 100%, 125% ETc daily) and four fertilization levels (500 g N&K via soil post-fruit set, 250, 375, 500 g of N&K via fertigation in three equal doses at 15-day intervals post-fruit set) and all the plants were mulched with silver colored polyethylene of 100 microns. The study found that 125% ETc with 375 g N&K fertigation and mulching significantly enhanced leaf nutrient and soil moisture availability (50%), water and nutrient use efficiency, fruit yield (60%), quality, and benefit-cost ratio, while saving 12.5% fertilizer compared to basin irrigation (1.2 m³ water) with 500 g N&K soil application. Similarly, 75% ETc with 500 g N&K fertigation and mulching improved leaf, soil nutrients, moisture, water and nutrient use efficiency, fruit yield (50%) and with 30% water savings compared to basin irrigation and soil fertilization. Future studies should validate these findings across diverse soil and climates to confirm the broader applicability of 125% ETc drip irrigation with 375 g N&K fertigation plant-1 and mulching as a fertilizer-saving approach, and 75% ETc drip irrigation with 500 g N&K fertigation plant-1 and mulching as a water-saving approach for mango cultivation.