Field performance of alternate wetting and drying furrow irrigation on tomato crop growth, yield, water use efifciency, quality and proiftability

摘要

Sustainable irrigation method is now essential for adaptation and adoption in the areas where water resources are limited. Therefore, a ifeld experiment was conducted to test the performance of alternate wetting and drying furrow irrigation (AWDFI) on crop growth, yield, water use efifciency (WUE), fruit quality and proiftability analysis of tomato. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with six treatments replicated thrice during the dry seasons of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. Irrigation water was applied through three ways of furrow: AWDFI, ifxed wetting and drying furrow irrigation (FWDFI) and traditional (every) furrow irrigation (TFI). Each irrigation method was divided into two levels: irrigation up to 100 and 80% ifeld capacity (FC). Results showed that plant biomass (dry matter) and marketable fruit yield of tomato did not differ signiifcantly between the treatments of AWDFI and TFI, but signiifcant difference was observed in AWDFI and in TFI compared to FWDFI at same irrigation level. AWDFI saved irrigation water by 35 to 38% for the irrigation levels up to 80 and 100% FC, compared to the TFI, respectively. AWDFI improved WUE by around 37 to 40% compared to TFI when irrigated with 100 and 80% FC, respectively. Fruit quality (total soluble solids and pulp) was found greater in AWDFI than in TFI. Net return from AWDFI technique was found nearly similar compared to TFI and more than FWDFI. The beneift cost ratio was viewed higher in AWDFI than in TFI and FWDFI by 2.8, 8.7 and 11, 10.4% when irrigation water was applied up to 100 and 80% FC, respectively. Unit production cost was obtained lower in AWDFI compared to TFI and FWDFI. However, AWDFI is a useful water-saving furrow irrigation technique which may resolve as an alternative choice compared with TFI in the areas where available water and supply methods are limited to irrigation.