Performance of fruit species in saline - waterlogged soils.
Hebbara M., Manjunatha M. V., Patil S. G., Patil D. R.
Author Affiliation: Agricultural Research Station, Gangavati - 583 227, India.
Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences 15 : 94-98
Abstract : Saplings of twelve fruit species (mango, Mangifera indica; sapota, Manilkara zapota, cultivars Kalipatti and Cricket Ball; wood apple, Limonia acidissima; tamarind, Tamarindus indica; pomegranate, Punica granatum; custard apple, Annona squamosa; fig, Ficus carica; guava, Psidium guajava; ber, Ziziphus mauritiana; aonla, Phyllanthus emblica; jamun, Syzygium cumini; and pummelo, Citrus maxima) were planted during 1990 in Gangavati, Karnataka, India in three naturally occurring salinity blocks (9.3±2.8 dS/m, 65-70 cm water table; 16.4±4.1 dS/m, 75-90 cm water table; and 25.4±4.9 dS/m, 85-114 cm water table). Performance of the fruit species was evaluated during 1990-2000 in terms of survival percentage, plant height and diameter at stump height. Based on survival percentage and growth, fruit species such as mango, custard apple, fig, guava and pummelo were not suitable for soils having salinity of 9.3 dS/m and higher. Jamun and sapota survived and grew better under relatively lower salinity and shallower water table condition whereas, wood apple was found promising under relatively high salinity and deeper water table condition. Pomegranate and ber maintained a moderate survival and steady growth rate in low salinity and shallow water table conditions.