Yield and economics of pomegranate as influenced by flower regulation under hot arid climate

Abstract

The present study was carried out to improve the marketable yield of pomegranate by flower regulation through withholding of irrigation at different time, pruning and ethrel application. Pooled data revealed that horticultural interventions, chemical applications and their interactions significantly affected total fruit yield, marketable fruit yield, gross return, net return and B:C ratio of pomegranate under hot arid climate. Among horticultural interventions, significantly highest marketable fruit yield, net return and B:C ratio (9.27 t/ha, 194881 Rs./ha and 2.34) were registered in withholding of irrigation during June + pruning and thinning as against minimum recorded in control i.e. natural flowering (7.32 t/ha, 138553 Rs./ha and 1.70), respectively. Among chemical applications, significantly highest marketable fruit yield, net return, B:C ratio (9.52 t/ha, 202268 Rs./ha and 2.42) were registered in application of ethrel 2 ml/1+ DAP 5 g/l as compared to control without chemicals. Among interactions, significantly highest marketable fruit yield, net return and B:C ratio (10.90 t/ha, 242627 Rs./ha and 2.87) were registered in treatment withholding of irrigation during June + pruning and thinning + ethrel 2 ml/1 + DAP 5 g/l treatment as compared to minimum recorded in absolute control treatment i.e. natural flowering without chemicals (6.64 t/ha, 121644 Rs./ha and 1.57), respectively. In conclusion, withholding of irrigation during June + pruning and thinning + ethrel 2 ml/1+ DAP 5 g/1 treatment combination was found significantly superior over other treatments with highest marketable yield, net return and B:C ratio under hot arid climate.