Evaluation of the Effects of Drip Irrigation and Fertigation scheduling on Tomato Yield under Polyhouse

Abstract

In Northwestern Himalayas, there is scarcity of water owing to rugged terrain which results in lower tomato yield. Therefore to enhance the productivity of tomato, the experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of drip irrigation and nutrient schedules on soil water dynamics and productivity of tomato under polyhouse. The treatments consisted of three drip irrigation levels viz., I1 (Daily drip irrigation 2.0 litre/m2 once in a day during first two months and 4.0 litre/m2 thereafter), I2 (Daily drip irrigation 1.0 litre/m2 once in a day during first two months and 2.0 litre/m2 thereafter) and I3 (Daily drip irrigation twice a day with 6 hours interval at 1.0 litre/m2) and three nutrient schedules viz., NPK75 (75% of RDF, 25% applied as basal and 75% through fertigation at 15 days interval), NPK100 (100% of RDF, 25% applied as basal and 75% through fertigation at 7 days interval) and NPK150 (150% of RDF, 25% applied as basal and 75% through fertigation twice a week). The results showed that the soil moisture content and soil water stock was higher under I3 and I1 and lower under I2 treatments. The marketable yield (6.31 kg m-2), water use efficiency (WUE) (1.94 g m-2 mm-1) and NPK uptake was significantly higher in I2 than I1 and I3. Among nutrient schedules, marketable yield (6.53 kg m-2), WUE (1.94 g m-2 mm-1) and NPK uptake were significantly higher under NPK150 nutrient schedule than NPK100 and NPK75. The net returns (Rs. 230) and benefit:cost (B:C) (4.62) ratio was highest under I2NPK150 followed by I1NPK150 and lowest under I3NPK75. The study concluded that I2 (Daily drip irrigation 1.0 litre/m2 once in a day during first two months and 2.0 litre/m2 thereafter) and NPK150 (150% of RDF, 25% applied as basal and 75% through fertigation twice a week) was most remunerative combination due to higher marketable yield and water use efficiency under polyhouse.