Abstract Water scarcity has resulted in lower yield (7–8 t ha−1) and a decline citrus orchards central India. In this scenario, optimal deficit irrigation (DI) is potential option to sustain production. To optimize the DI schedule relation yield, water productivity, fruit quality production economics, was applied at 30% of full (FI, 100% crop evapotranspiration), 50% FI 70% compared with drip-i...