Effects of different irrigation methods and mulching on yield, growth and water use efficiency of strawberry

Abstract Optimum water supply in the root zone with precision irrigation water management may play a key role in improving the productivity and sustainability of strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa ) in moist tropical sub-humid environments. Accordingly, a greenhouse experiment was conducted from 2015-16 to 2017-18 on a Aeric Haplaquept to evaluate the effect of irrigation (surface irrigation at furrows at irrigation water : cumulative pan evaporation = 1, drip irrigation to meet 100, 80 and 60% of actual crop evapotranspiration demand ), and mulch (nonwoven jute agro textile, biodegradable plastic film, rice straw, and no mulch) regimes on strawberry. Average soil water storage in root zone (86mm) and fraction of potential plant available water (61%) was highest in jute agrotextile mulched and drip irrigated at 80% actual evapotranspiration. This combination of mulch and irrigation regime increased belowground (root length density, 7.15×10 3 m m -3 ) and above ground (leaf area index, 9.4) crop growth and emerged as the best option with three- and four-times higher yield (31.1 Mg ha -1 ) and water use efficiency (23.1 kg m -3 ), respectively than surface irrigated unmulched strawberry. Results suggest that these findings be incorporated into packages and practices of strawberry cultivation in the moist tropical sub-humid region of Bengal basin and other similar agroecological regions of South Asia.