Drip irrigation with 80% of evaporation replenishment is recommended. The received quantity water need to be given with two emitters spaced at 30 cm on either side of the plant. Application of soluble fertilizers through drip irrigation could bring about substantial savings in fertilizer use (saving of nearly 20-25%). Apart from this the pollution of ground waters through nitrate-nitrogen leaching could be avoided to a large extent. Fertigation also offers the possibility of using nutrients matching to the crop demand at different stages of growth.
Drip irrigation of mango orchards to replenish 40% of evaporation losses (20-25 litres/plant/day when the evaporation is 8 mm and the canopy area covered is around 6.25M2) increased the fruit set and yield (upto 12%). Supplying the soluble straight fertilizers (N & K) as Urea and Muriate of Potash through drip irrigation at 75% of the recommended dose of fertilizer resulted in yields comparable to that of 100% of recommended dose of fertilizer – a saving of nearly 25% in the fertilizer use.