Effect of drip irrigation and fertigation on yield, water-and fertilizer-use efficiency and economics of greater yam (Dioscorea alata) in eastern India

An experiment was conducted to see the effect of drip irrigation and fertigation on greater yam (Dioscorea alata L.) during 2020–21, 2021–22 and 2022–23 at the Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in split plot design with drip irrigation levels in main plots (I₁-60% CPE, I₂-80% CPE and I₃-100% CPE) and in sub-plots fertigation levels (F₁-N-P₂O₅-K₂O 60–60-60 kg ha^-1, F₂-N-P₂O₅-K₂O 80–60-80 kg ha^-1 and F₃-N-P₂O₅-K₂O 100–60-100 kg ha^-1). Check: (surface irrigation IW/CPE: 1.0; P₂O₅ 60 kg ha^-1 basal application; N-K₂O 80–80 kg ha^-1 soil application at basal (40%), 30 (30%) and 60 (30%) days after planting) and control: (surface irrigation IW/CPE: 1.0; no fertilizer) also included to compare the treatments. The treatment I₃ resulted in higher tuber yield, cost of cultivation, gross return, net return and B:C ratio, however, it was statistically on a par with I₂. Among fertigation, treatment F₃ resulted in significantly higher tuber yield, cost of cultivation, gross return, net return and B:C ratio. The interaction treatment I₃F₃ resulted in higher tuber yield, gross and net returns as well as B:C ratio and it was statistically on a par with I₂F₃ and I₃F₂. The treatment I₂F₃ resulted in higher water-use efficiency (WUE) and fertilizer-use efficiency (FUE). Hence, treatment I₂F₃ can be recommended for optimum tuber yield, higher WUE and FUE and better returns.