Effect of drip fertigation on growth and yield of papaya (Carica papaya L.) in semi-arid tropical region of Maharashtra.

The experiment was conducted for two consecutive years of 2015-16 and 2016-17 at Irrigation Water Management Farm, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri to assess the effect of drip fertigation on growth and yield of papaya ( Carica papaya L.) cv. Red lady. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatments comprised of four levels of drip irrigation viz ., 60, 80, 100 and 120% of ET c as main plot treatments and fertigation levels viz ., 75, 100 and 12 % of RDF as subplot treatments. Surface irrigation with soil surface application of 100% RDF was taken as control. The plant height, stem girth, number of functional leaves, and plant spread of papaya were significantly influenced by different drip irrigation levels. Significantly higher plant height (322.05 cm), stem girth (48.17 cm), number of functional leaves (38.27), E-W plant spread (294.99 cm) and N-S spread (290.56 cm) was recorded when crop was irrigated at 120% ET c . Fertigation with 125% RDF registered significantly higher plant height (287.99 cm), stem girth (45.49 cm), number of functional leaves (35.52), E-W plant spread (284.41 cm) and N-S plant spread (280.00 cm). Drip irrigation at 125% ET c recorded significantly higher papaya yield (222.97 t ha -1 ) which was at par with 100% ET c (207.96 t ha -1 ). On the other hand, fertigation level of 125% RDF registered the maximum papaya yield (211.35 t ha -1 ) which was 90.80% higher over control, respectively. Significant interaction effect of drip irrigation and fertigation levels on papaya yield was observed and highest yield (255.09 t ha -1 ) was obtained with the treatment combination of drip irrigation at 100% ET c with fertigation of 125% RDF which was at par with drip irrigation at 120% ET c with fertigation of 125% RDF.