Evaluating the Effects of Deficit irrigation and Mulch type on Yield and Water Productivity of Tomato in Fogera, Ethiopia

Abstract

Water scarcity poses a significant challenge to current irrigated agriculture, necessitating the development of new on-farm irrigation management strategies to ensure sustainable utilization of limited water resources. In 2021, an experiment was conducted at the Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center (FNRRTC) experimental site to analyze the yield and water productivity of tomato crops under water stress conditions. A factorial combination of three levels of deficit irrigation (100%ETc, 75%ETc, and 50%ETc) based on ETc, and three mulch types: No Mulch (NM), White Plastic Mulch (WPM), and Rice Straw Mulch (RSM) were evaluated in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Rice Straw Mulch was applied at a rate of 6t/ha, while White Plastic Mulch had a thickness of 25 microns. Monthly reference evapotranspiration (ETo), crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and irrigation scheduling were calculated using the CROPWAT 8.0 model based on climate, soil, and crop data. The results of the study revealed that both the yield of tomatoes and water productivity were significantly influenced by the main and interaction effects of deficit irrigation and mulch types at a significance level of 0.05%. The marketable yield of tomatoes at 75%ETc was 4.1% higher than at 100%ETc and 27.8% higher than at 50%ETc, while the water productivity at 50%ETc was 13.4% higher than at 75%ETc and 53.0% higher than at 100%ETc. Additionally, the marketable yield of tomatoes with Rice Straw Mulch was 17.1% higher than with No Mulch and 5.1% higher than with White Plastic Mulch. In comparison, the water productivity of tomatoes with Rice Straw Mulch was 16.3% higher than with No Mulch and 3.6% higher than with White Plastic Mulch. Furthermore, the marketable yield of tomatoes at 75%ETc with Rice Straw Mulch was 8.0% higher than at 100%ETc with Rice Straw Mulch and 9.7% higher than at 75%ETc with White Plastic Mulch. The water productivity of tomatoes at 50%ETc with White Plastic Mulch was 3.2% higher than at 50%ETc with Rice Straw Mulch and 8.5% higher than at 75%ETc with Rice Straw Mulch. These findings highlight that Rice Straw Mulch with 75%ETc enhances both yield and water productivity by conserving water without compromising tomato yields.

Keywords: Deficit irrigation, Mulch, Crop and Water Productivity, water stress, tomato

DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/95-03

Publication date: January 31^st 2025