Effect of Mulching and Amount of Water on the Yield of Tomato under Furrow Irrigation

Abstract

Maintaining optimal soil water content through the growing season of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) is required for optimal plant yield and yield components especially in semi arid regions. However, there is limited information on optimum water management practices, or deficit irrigation that would increase tomato crop yield and yield components when irrigation is used. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of mulch and amount of water on the yield of tomato under furrow irrigation system and to assess the potential of deficit irrigation to improve the economic efficiency of tomato production at Pawe Agricultural Research Center, during 2020/2021 cropping season. A factorial combination of four levels of water (namely 50% ETc, 75% ETc, 100% ETc and 125% ETc) combined with three mulch treatments (namely without mulch, dry elephant grass mulch and dry banana leaf mulch) were arranged in randomized complete block design replicated three times. Interaction effects of amount of water and mulching materials significantly affected fruit length, fruit diameter, marketable and total fruit yield. Number of fruits and average of fruit weight were significantly affected by amount of water. Significant difference was also shown among mulch treatments on number of fruits and average fruit weight. The highest net benefit (428, 195.60 birr ha-1) and marginal rate of return (1318%) were obtained from the combination of 75% ETc amount of irrigation and elephant grass mulch. Therefore, application of 75% ETc with grass mulch was found to be economically and agronomically feasible and is recommended for Pawe and its surrounding and other similar agro-ecologies under furrow irrigation system.