STUDIES ON DIFFERENT LEVELS OF IRRIGATION AND MULCHES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF TOMATO (Solanum lycoperscicum L.) IN NORTHERN DRY ZONE OF KARNATAKA
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Date
2021-02
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University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot. (College of Horticulture, Bagalkot).
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “Studies on different levels of irrigation and mulches
on growth and yield of tomato (Solanum lycoperscicum L.) in Northern Dry Zone of Karnataka”
was conducted at Vegetable block, College of Horticulture, Bagalkote during Rabi-2020. The
study was laid in split plot design with main plot comprised of four levels of irrigation (I1:100
%, I2:80 %, I3:60 % and I4:40 % cumulative pan evaporation) and subplots with three levels of
mulches (M1: without mulch, M2: sugarcane mulch and M3: polythene mulch) forming 12
treatment combinations.
The individual effects of irrigation levels and mulches had significant influence on
growth and yield of tomato, but the effect was immensely increased when they were used in
combination. Among the 12 treatment combinations, I2M3 i.e. treatment receiving drip irrigation
at 80 per cent CPE along with polythene mulch recorded significantly higher values for growth
parameters at 90 DAT [plant height (112.10 cm), number of branches (16.13), plant canopy in
E-W direction (112.47 cm) and N-S direction (111.80 cm)], yield attributes [flowers per cluster
(7.23), fruits per cluster (6.14), average fruit weight (63.40 g) and fruit yield per plant (2.74 kg),
per plot (60.90 kg) and per hectare (51.83 t/ha)] and highest benefit cost ratio of 3.23.
Maximum soil moisture content (18.67 and 20.29 %) was found under treatment receiving drip
irrigation at 100 per cent CPE under polythene mulch (I1M3) at 30 and 60 DAT, respectively
and under I2M3 (19.10 %) at 90 DAT. With respect to earliness parameters like minimum days
to first flowering (26.63 days) and 50 per cent flowering (31.50 days) was observed under drip
irrigation at 40 per cent CPE under sugarcane mulch (I4M2) and drip irrigation at 40 per cent
CPE under without mulch condition (I4M1), respectively. Lowest weed densities were recorded
under the combinations of all the four levels of irrigation under polythene mulch at all monthly
intervals.
The treatment combination I2M3 is the best performing combination, which gives
maximum growth, yield and benefit cost ratio of 3.23, besides saving 20 per cent irrigation
water than I1M3 which is at par with best performing combination i.e. I2M3.