Water requirement of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) for Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra State, India

The study was carried out to estimate reference crop evapotranspiration, develop crop coefficients and wetted area factors; and estimate crop evapotranspiration of pomegranate for Anmednagar district of Maharashtra State. The crop coefficient values were estimated on weekly basis from the concept of shaded area that is widely used for the deciduous props for the pomegranate plantation of 1(st) year to maturity (5(th) year) and are presented in the paper. Shaded areas were-estimated at solar:noon hour with the help of a specially prepared plywood board of different sizes with grid marking of size 20 x 20 cm for 5 randomly selected pomegranate trees each from 2 orchards of different ages. Pomegranate crop evapotranspiration was then determined on weekly basis. The values of water to be applied to pomegranate plantation spaced at 3 x 4.5 m and irrigated by the drip irrigation system of 90% efficiency were estimated and are presented in this paper for Ahmednagar district for 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), 4(th), and 5(th) years of pomegranate orchards for Mrig, Ambhe and Hast Bahars. The values of reference crop evapotranspiration, crop coefficient, area factor, water requirement and water to be applied presented in this paper would be useful for the appropriate irrigation water management of pomegranate.