Integrated Effect of Mulching and Furrow Methods on Tomato (Lycopersiumesculentum L) Yield and Water Productivity at West Wellega, Ethiopia

Abstract

Mulching applications can effectively modify the plant hydrothermal micro-environment.However, the impacts of mulching on potato yield vary with climatic conditions and field managements. Mulching with different furrow irrigation methods is one of the techniques to improve soil and water productivity. A field trial was conducted to study the effect of plastic mulch and different irrigation levels on water productivity and yield attributes of tomato (Lycopersiumesculentum L)based on the objective to select most effective water management techniques and mulching types. A split plot design consists of three furrow irrigation methods (namely conventional, alternate and fixed furrow with 100% ETc) as main plot and three mulch treatments (namely, without mulch, straw mulch and plastic mulch) as sub-plot used with three replications. The irrigation method and mulching types highly significantly (p<0.01) affected the studied parameters of tomato at Haru. Maximum tomato yield was recorded from conventional furrow irrigation method which is superior than alternate and fixed furrow irrigation method. However, higher water use efficiency was obtained due to alternate furrow irrigation method. Maximum marketable yield and water use efficiency were obtained due to plastic mulch than no mulch and straw mulch for tomato at Haru. However, there was no interaction effect due to the two factors studied (irrigation type and mulching type) except water productivity. Therefore, for maximizing marketable yield and better water productivity under no water stress condition; irrigation of tomato with conventional furrow irrigation methods coupled with plastic mulch could be used. But for moisture stress scenario it is preferable to use alternate furrow with plastic mulch to achieve highest water productivity with minimum yield loss.

Keywords: plastic mulch, Alternate furrow, Conventional furrow, water productivity

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-20-01

Publication date:October 31^st 2019