Crop water requirement and water use efficiency of cauliflower under mulching and drip irrigation in eastern Plateau hills region of Jharkhand

Abstract

Water scarcity puts a big adverse impact on food production and its related activities. Under the scarce water availability conditions it becomes a tedious proposition to raise crops, in absence of appropriate management, for ensuring food security. In order to get rid of this constraint, an efficient irrigation system with the use of appropriate mulching and irrigation level would be the most suitable option, which can save water and increase productivity of cauliflower. The present investigation was carried out to determine water requirement and water use efficiency of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) under various growing condition (t1- Surface irrigation, t2- Drip irrigation ( 100%Et), t3- Drip irrigation( 80%Et), t4- Drip irrigation( 100%Et) with Black plastic Mulch, T5- Drip irrigation ( 80%ET) with Black plastic Mulch. This experiment was conducted in the field of the department of agricultural engineering, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, ranchi during 2017-18. Drip irrigation based on crop water requirement significantly increased crop yield of cauliflower and improved WUE due to consumption of less water. The findings of this research work revealed that use of 80 per cent of crop water requirement through drip irrigation with black plastic mulch(25 micron) system besides giving a saving of 69% water resulted in 3.2 times higher yield of cauliflower as compared to surface irrigation. Drip irrigation in combination with plastic mulch was found to be more appropriate and profitable method in improving WUE and increasing crop yield of cauliflower. Estimation of crop water requirement from crop evapotranspiration equation by measuring microclimates directly is an appropriate method for effective management of scarce water resources under climatic condition of Jharkhand.