Role of irrigation and mulch on yield, evapotranspiration rate and water use pattern of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L)

Irrigation management strategy invites the quantification of crop response to irrigation frequencies Conventionally mulches increase the yield and water use efficiency (WUE) to a great extent by augmenting the water status in the root zone profile A field study was carried out during the winter season (November-March) of 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 at the Central Research Farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (Latitude 22 58 N Longitude 88 31 E and altitude 9 75 m amsl) Gayeshpur India to evaluate the effect of irrigation frequencies and mulches on evapotranspiration rate from tomato crop field as well as leaf area Index (LAI) fruit yield and WUE of the crop The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design where three irrigation treatments {rainfed (RF) CPE(50) and CPE(25) where irrigation was given at 50 and 25 mm of cumulative pan evaporation (CPE)} were kept in the main plots and the subplots contained four mulch managements {no mulch (NM) rice straw mulch (RSM) white polyethylene mulch (WPM) and black polyethylene mulch (BPM)} Under CPE(25) tomato crop recorded significantly higher leaf area index (LAI) over CPE(50) and minted condition LAI value under BPM was 9-30% more over other mulches Maximum variation of LAI among different treatments was recorded at 60 days after transplanting (DAT) Fruit yield under CPE(25) was 39 4 Mg ha(-1) a reduction of 7 and 30% has been obtained under CPE(50) and RF condition The use of mulch increased 23-57% yield in comparison to NM condition Actual evapotranspiration rate (ET(R)) was 1 82 mm day(-1) under CPE(25) and declined by 15 and 31% under CPE(50) and RF condition respectively The variation of ETR among different mulches became more prominent under maximum water stressed (RF) condition whereas the variation was negligible under CPE(25) frequency Irrespective of mulching WUE was highest under moderately wet (CPE(50)) soil environment Among different mulches BPM was responsible for attaining the highest WUE value (25 1 kg m(-3)) which declined by 22 21 and 39% under WPM RSM and NM respectively (c) 2010 Elsevier BV All rights reserved