Effect of Soil Moisture Regimes with Drip on Spatial Distribution of Moisture, Salts, Nutrient Availability and Water Use Efficiency of Banana

Results of field experiment conducted on Vertisol during 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 to study the effect of moisture regimes applied through drip on spatial distribution of soil moisture, salts, nutrient availability and water use efficiency of banana under different planting patterns revealed that highest water content was found below the dripper and it followed a decreasing trend with increasing spatial distance, lateral as well as vertical. Irrigation at 0.8 and 1.00 ETc maintained soil moisture content near to field capacity. The salt content was low near the dripper and increased with water front, laterally. More salt spreading was observed from the trickle source with higher application rate of water and maximum salt accumulation was at periphery of wetted zone of soil. However, more salt accumulation was observed in the root zone under surface irrigation in check basin as compared to irrigations applied through drip. The availability of P and K in soil was highest in the surface layer. Application of irrigation to banana at 1.0 ETc through drip with normal planting (1.5 x 1.5 m) recorded significantly higher bunch yield as well as water use efficiency. Drip irrigation saved 41 percent water over surface irrigation in check basin.