Effect of drip irrigation and polyethylene mulch on yield, quality and water-use efficiency of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

A 2 year field study was conducted during 1996 and 1997 at Nauni (Solan) on loamy sand Inceptisols to investigate the effect of drip irrigation and polyethylene mulch compared with the surface irrigation, on fruit yield, quality and water-use efficiency of 'Naveen' tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum (I.) Miller nom, cons.). Drip irrigation at 0.8 V-volume of water (80% evapo-transpiration crop) applied gave significantly higher fruit yield (16.63 tonnes/ha) compared with the surface irrigation (11.95 tonnes/ha). Moreover polyethylene mulch plus drip irrigation further raised the yield to 23.25 tonnes/ha. Fruit weight increased significantly while other analysed quality characteristics did not differ significantly among treatments. Water-use efficiency under drip irrigation alone, drip irrigation plus polyethylene mulch and surface irrigation was 0.34, 0.48 and 0.16 tonne/ha-cm respectively. Drip irrigation besides giving a saving of 54% irrigation water resulted in 40% higher fruit yield compared with the surface irrigation.