Response of Mulching with Supplementary Irrigation on Physiochemical Properties of Bael (Aegle marmelos Correa.)

The experiment was conducted at Horticultural Research Station, Mondouri, BCKV during 2015-2017 to find out the effect of mulching and supplementary irrigation on physical and chemical properties i.e fruit weight, length, diameter, pulp percentage, TSS, acidity, vitamin-C, anthocyanin etc. of Bael (Aegle marmelos Correa.) The experiment was put on factorial RBD consist of nine treatments viz. M0I0 - No mulch + no irrigation (Control). M0I1 - No mulch + basin irrigation with 15 litres/plant at 10 days interval, M0I2 - No mulch + basin irrigation with 15 litres/plant at 20 days interval, M1I0 - Black polythene mulching + no irrigation M1I1 - Black polythene mulching + basin irrigation with 15 litres/plant at 10 days interval, M1I2 - Black polythene mulching + basin irrigation with 15 litres/plant at 20 days interval. M2I0 - Dry leaves mulching + no irrigation, M2I1 - Dry leaves mulching + basin irrigation with 15 litres/plant at 10 days interval, M2I2 - Dry leaves mulching + basin irrigation with 15 litres/plant at 20 days interval. Which are interaction of two factor i.e. mulching and irrigation and each treatment has three replications. Mulching with black polythene followed by basin irrigation with 15 litres/plant at 10 days interval was most effective in improving fruit weight (1089.17g), size (length 12.89cm and diameter 39.18cm) and pulp content (56.16%) followed by dry leaves mulching + basin irrigation 15 litres/plant at 10 days interval. The fruit quality like vitamin C and anthocyanin content were also improved by mulching with black polythene followed by basin irrigation 15 litres/plant at 10 days interval but TSS, acidity whereas total sugar content in the fruits were not affected due to mulching and supplementary irrigation