Gravity-Fed Drip-Fertigation: An Efficient Water and Nutrient Management Tool for High Valued Crops in a Deep Tube Well Command of West Bengal

Drip-fertigation with proper irrigation scheduling can be an efficient and viable technology alternative to traditional irrigation and fertilizer management for enhancing crop productivity, water and nutrient use efficiency and economics. The gravity-fed drip fertigation with moderately deficit or optimum irrigation resulted in maximum yield (9.9–43.3 t ha⁻¹), water use efficiency (19.7–73.54 kg⁻¹ ha mm), fertilizer use efficiency (9–312 kg increase kg NPK added), income (46250-144748 ha⁻¹) and BCR (2.05–4.41) for several high-value crops. The increase in yield, water-saving and income was 11.0–42.9%, 20.1–68.1% and 18.8–59.5%, respectively over farmers’ traditional practices. Inclusion of partly pre-plant fertilization, plastic mulching for soil water conservation and vermicompost in the nitrogen management had additional influences in promoting the parameters studied.