Economic Feasibility of Drip Irrigated Tomato Crop under Rainfed Condition

The study was conducted in the clay loam soil of Regional Research Station (Old Alluvial Zone) in South Dinajpur District of West Bengal, India for two years during November to March to determine the yield response and economic feasibility of tomato under drip irrigation at different levels of irrigation. Eight irrigation treatments were considered under drip with and without plastic mulch. The irrigation levels were taken as 1, 0.8 and 0.6 of the water requirement of the crop. The average amount of water applied under treatment VD (100% irrigation requirement supplied with drip) was 760 mm for whole growing season of the crop. Similarly the amount of water applied was 608 mm and 456 mm for the treatment 0.8 VD (80% irrigation requirement supplied with drip) and 0.6 VD (60% irrigation requirement supplied with drip) respectively. Highest yield of 34.3 t/ha was recorded in case of treatment VD+PM (100% irrigation requirement supplied with drip plus plastic mulch) followed by VD. The yield per mm of water used and B. C. Ratio in case of 0.8 VD were observed as 53 and 1.13 which is the best among all the treatments in terms of B. C. Ratio, yield obtained and yield per mm of water used. The income from produce was estimated using prevailing average market price @ RS. 2000/t.