Effect of Irrigation and Mulching on Fruit Yield and WUE of Smooth Gourd

A field experiment on smooth gourd var. Chetak was conducted during rabi season of 2004–05 at Soil and Water Management Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat). Three levels each of irrigation (I₁: 0.4 PEF through drip, I₂: 0.6 PEF through drip and I₃: 1.0 IW/CPE, D= 60 mm through surface irrigation) and mulching (M₀: No mulch, M₁: Sugarcane trash mulch @ 5 t/ha and M₂: Black plastic mulch, 50μ and 30 per cent coverage) were tested in FRBD with four replications. The results revealed that the fruit yield of smooth gourd was not affected significantly due to irrigation treatment. However, water saving to an extent of 60 per cent can be achieved by adopting drip method of irrigation at 0.4 PEF. The water use efficiency (WUE) was also higher in I₁ treatment followed by I₂. Mulching with sugarcane trash mulch significantly increased the fruit yield of smooth gourd. There was considerable reduction in the weed biomass in sugarcane trash mulch and black plastic mulch treatments as compared to control treatment.