Kumar et al. (2026) Optimization of irrigation, fertigation and mulching practices for drip-irrigated strawberry in an acidic alfisol under North-Western Himalayan conditions

Identification

• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-12
• Authors: Anil Kumar, Sanjeev K. Sandal, Richa Jaswal, Vaishali, Krishna
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-68339-3

Research Groups

• Department of Soil Science, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur.

Short Summary

This study aimed to optimize irrigation, fertigation, and mulching practices for drip-irrigated strawberry cultivation in acidic Alfisols under North-Western Himalayan conditions. The results showed that a combination of 25% basal NPK + 75% fertigation, polyethylene mulch, and irrigation at 0.8 PE was the most effective strategy for maximizing productivity, resource-use efficiency, and profitability.

Objective

• To evaluate the interactive effects of irrigation levels, fertigation schedules, and mulching practices on growth, yield, and quality of strawberry under open-field conditions.
• To assess water use efficiency and economic viability of the production system.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Field experiment conducted at a single location in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India.
• Temporal Scale: Three consecutive winter seasons (2021–2024).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: None mentioned.
• Data sources: Field measurements of growth, yield, quality, water use efficiency, and economic returns.

Main Results

• The combination of 25% basal NPK + 75% fertigation, polyethylene mulch, and irrigation at 0.8 PE resulted in the highest fruit yield (9983 kg ha−1), water use efficiency (5.130 kg m−3), net return (₹9,94,536 ha−1), and benefit-cost ratio (4.25).
• Polyethylene mulch significantly advanced flowering and first harvest compared to straw mulch.
• Irrigation at 0.8 PE consistently outperformed the deficit irrigation regime (0.4–0.6 PE) in terms of fruit yield, water use efficiency, net return, and benefit-cost ratio.

Contributions

• The study provides location-specific recommendations for integrated water and nutrient management in strawberry cultivation under acidic Alfisols.
• The findings contribute to improved productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability of strawberry cultivation.

Funding

• This research was funded by the Department of Soil Science, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur.

Citation

@article{Kumar2026Optimization,
  author = {Kumar, Anil and Sandal, Sanjeev K. and Jaswal, Richa and Vaishali and Krishna},
  title = {Optimization of irrigation, fertigation and mulching practices for drip-irrigated strawberry in an acidic alfisol under North-Western Himalayan conditions},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-68339-3},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-68339-3}
}