MICRO IRRIGATION PRACTICES IN TOMATO - Management, Performance, and Applications of Micro Irrigation Systems - page 186

Furrow irrigation is the conventional methods widely used to irrigate most of the
vegetable crops grown in India. However, this method uses more water compared
to other high-tech water saving irrigation methods such as sprinkler, drip, etc. Many
researchers have reported the higher application effi ciency of drip irrigation system
over the conventional furrow irrigation systems [5, 8, 22]. There was savings of 67
to 80% with drip irrigation more irrigation water than with surface irrigation methods
[20]. Based on a study conducted at Rahuri - India [10], 60% higher yield of okra
with water savings of 40% under drip irrigation as compared to furrow irrigation has
been reported. The 100% irrigation requirement was met through drip irrigation and
the highest yield of okra under black plastic mulch has been obtained (14.51 tons/
ha) with 72% increase in yield compared to furrow irrigation [22]. Field experiments
for two years on clay loam soil in the northern region of Allahabad - India were con-
ducted to study the effects of 8 levels of pan evaporation replenishments (25, 50, 75,
100, 125, 150, 175 and 200%) on marketable yield, irrigation production effi ciency
and economic return of potato under drip irrigation [7]. The highest mean marketable
yield (two years) of potato was 48.98 tons/ha at 150% pan evaporation replenishment
with irrigation production effi ciency being maximum with a value of 106.26 kg/m 3 .
Irrigation at the said level of pan replenishment gave highest economic return and
benefi t-cost ratio.
In Odisha - India, economic evaluation of drip irrigation in fruit crops (coconut,
mango and sapota: chikoo in Hindi) has revealed that this system conserves consider-
able amount of water and results better returns despite higher initial investment [4].
The response of banana to drip irrigation in terms of yield improvement was found to
be different in different agro-climatic and soil conditions in India [1, 6, 15, and 18].
Response of vegetable to drip irrigation in terms of increase in yield was also different
in different agro-climatic and soil conditions in India. Use of soil cover and mulching
is also benefi cial chiefl y due to the infl uence of soil moisture conservation, solarization
and weed control. Benefi cial response of plants to mulch includes early production,
more yield and reduced insect and disease problems [3, 15]. Linear Low Density Poly
Ethylene (LDPE) plastic fi lms have been proved to be superior mulch because of its
puncture resistance quality, thinness and lower cost [13].
In Odisha - India, although the average annual rainfall is 1500 mm, yet there
is hardly any rainfall in winter season (only 11% of annual rainfall occurs in win-
ter). Hence there is scarcity of water in rest periods of the year for growing crops in
up and medium lands. Drip irrigation has created interest among farmers because of
less water requirement, possible increased production and better quality produce. The
Government of India is also offering fi nancial assistance to the farmers who use this
technique for growing preferably vegetables and fruits. Among the different vegeta-
bles cultivated in the Odisha state, tomato is an important vegetable and is grown in all
agro-climatic conditions. Due to lack of information of proper irrigation management
technique, the crop yield is very low.
Therefore, a fi eld experiment was conducted in the West Central Table Land Zone
of Odisha - India to study the effects of drip irrigation and furrow irrigation on yield
and water use effi ciency of tomato grown under the mulching and nonmulching condi-