Water requirement of pomegranate (Punica granatumL.) orchards for season August-March (Mrig bahar)

Pomegranate evapotranspiration determined by the effects of various weather conditions were incorporated into reference crop evapotranspiration and crop characteristics into crop co-efficient. The average ETr values over the 31 years were determined by Penman-Monteith method. The probability distributions that were fitted to ETr values are Log normal, Gumbel and Weibull’s probability distribution functions. Chi-square test was performed to know the probability distribution of best fit. ETr values at 10 per cent to 90 per cent probability level for Penman- Monteith method using probability distribution of best fit. The values of reference crop evapotranspiration, crop co-efficient, area factor, water requirement and water to be applied would be useful for the irrigation water management of pomegranate. The water was applied through drip system at 90 per cent efficiency to pomegranate plantation spaced at 3 × 4.5 m. The result reveals, for Mrig bahar the total weekly water to be applied to pomegranate tree at 70 per cent probability level for 1st to 5th year was 112.44, 303.08, 761.64, 1058.5 and 1327.4 lit/year/tree, respectively.