Effect of irrigation scheduling on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) yield and water use efficiency under drip irrigation System

The study was conducted to assess the effect of drip irrigation scheduling on growth and fruit quality of tomato and to determine the benefit-cost (B-C) ratio of tomato under different treatments. Five treatments viz., T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 using drip irrigation method without using fertilizer and chemicals were tested to improve irrigation scheduling in tomato. The experimental setup consisted of screen filter, main, sub mains, laterals, drippers and other accessories required for drip irrigation and fitted in the experimental plot of 0.006 ha land. Total production of 2851.08 q/ha tomato was obtained under various treatments and maximum production of 644.83 q/ha was under treatment T3 (3 hr water applied in time interval of three day) whereas minimum achieved under treatment T5 (control) as 508.25 q/ha out of three treatments such as T1 (1 hr water applied in one day time interval), T2 (2 hr water applied in two day time interval) and T4 (4 hr water applied in four day interval). Highest fruit weight also recorded in T3 treatment as 10.40 kg/plant and lowest 5.20 kg/plant was obtained under T5 treatment. Highest water use efficiency (WUE) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) were achieved under T3 as 3.15 q/ha-cm and 8.10, respectively. From the present study, it was concluded that modern irrigation system (drip) should be used as a benchmark for planning and management of available water resource by reducing water losses in large extent.