Effect of partial root drying technique and fertigation on pest and diseases of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Cv. Bhagwa

A investigation was conducted to study the effect of partial root drying technique and fertigation on major pest and diseases of pomegranate ( Punica granatum L.) Cv. Bhagwa was carried out through a field experiment. The experiment comprising of 8 treatments, T 1 is a partial root drying technique that requires 100% water and 100% nutrition (NPK); T 2 is a partial root drying technique that requires 100% water and 75% nutrition (NPK); T 3 : Half-drying method (75% water needed) + 100% nutrition through fertigation using 100% RDF of NPK; T 4 : Half-drying method (75% water needed) + 75% nutrition through fertigation using 75% RDF of NPK; T 5 : 50% water need for partial root drying + 100% nutrition through fertigation with 100% RDF of NPK, T 6 : 50% water need for partial root drying + 75% nutrition through fertigation with 75% RDF of NPK, T 7 : Management, or standard drip irrigation (requiring 100% water) and 100% nutrition through fertigation using 100% RDF of NPK, T 8 : Control, or standard drip irrigation with 100% water need on both plant sides with 75% nutrition through fertigation using 75% RDF of NPK. In pooled data of two years, minimum incidence of bacterial blight (5.28%) and fusarium wilt (6.24%) was observed in I 1 (PRD 100 ) and I 2 treatment (PRD 75 ). Minimum incidence of bacterial blight (5.81%) and fusarium wilt (14.55%) was recorded in N 1 treatment (RDF 100 ). The minimum incidence of bacterial blight (5.15%) and fusarium wilt (4.16%) was noticed in T 5 treatment. Coming to pest infestation, minimum fruit borer incidence (3.65%) and aphid incidence (7.74%) was observed in I 3 (PRD 50 ). Minimum fruit borer incidence (4.50%) and aphid incidence (9.61%) was recorded in N 2 treatment (RDF 75 ). In interaction effect of fertigation and irrigation, the minimum fruit borer incidence (3.51%) and aphid incidence (7.65%) was noticed in T 6 treatment.