Deficit irrigation at 50% ETc at early fruit enlargement period (RDI50) could save 24% water in ‘Kinnow’ mandarin cultivation.
The fruit yield of the plants under RDI50 was statistically at par with that under full irrigation (FI).
Fruit quality of deficit irrigated plants was superior to that with fully-irrigated plants.
The reduction in photosynthesis rate is relatively less than the reduction in transpiration rate of plants under RDI50 compared to FI.
Principal component-regression has been found as a potential tool to predict the fruit yield of the deficit-irrigated plants.