COMPARATIVE STUDY ON POMEGRANATE (Punica granatum L.) Cv. Mridula under colour shade nets, Evaporative cooling and FOLIAR SPRAY OF KAOLIN & Borax application in semi arid region of Punjab

A field trial comprising total ten treatments viz control three coloured shade nets (Green 35% and 50%, Red & Black 50%), one insect net 50 mesh at three metre height, two evaporative cooling treatments (over tree fogger and micro sprinkler) at 2.5 meter height and two foliar spary treatment (Kaolin 4% and Borax 0.4%) during the fruit development stage) was undertaken on pomegranate Cv. Mridula during 2012-13. Study was aimed to evaluate the efficiency of different treatments against sunburn attack and pomegranate fruit quality under high solar radiation during summer months. Significant difference was recorded in fruit weight and yield. No significant difference was observed in TSS (0Brix). Sun burn attack was recorded less (3.2%) in black colour shading compared to control (9%). No significant difference was found for bacteria burnt disease in openly grown and TSS but acidity and Vitamin-C was reduced in shadnets.