Comparative Study of Drip and Ring Basin Irrigation Methods for Young Mango and Jujube Orchard at Farmers’ Field in Tando Allahyar

Abstract

Pakistan ranks 5^th globally in mango production and 3^rd in exports. Jujube, known locally as Ber, is vital in arid regions, resilient to drought. Boosting production and improving fruit quality requires attention to factors like soil, plant variety, and weather. Water scarcity underscores the need for modern irrigation methods to enhance mango and jujube yields. A field experiment was conducted at Doctor Nasir Agriculture Farm, located at 25° N latitude and 68° E longitude, approximately 26 m above sea level. The experimental area covered 0.296 ha (54.86m x 53.92m). In this study, two treatments were used i.e. T1 (drip irrigated plants) and T2 (ring basin irrigated plants) at 50% soil moisture depletion level with three replications. The result of this experiment shows that the drip irrigation significantly influenced mango and jujube plant height, with no notable difference between the irrigation methods. The system demonstrated satisfactory performance, achieving 88.0% distribution uniformity for both lateral and the entire system. Notably, the study revealed a substantial 77% water savings with drip irrigation compared to ring basin, offering potential for revitalizing fallow land. Urgent awareness efforts are recommended within water-stressed farming communities to promote the adoption of drip irrigation for mango and jujube orchards.

Keywords:                   Drip Irrigation, Young Mango, Jujube, Ring Basin Irrigation Method.