Optimal design of flow rate in drip irrigation system to enhance the tomato cultivation

farmareahasbeenirrigatedwithadditionoffertilizer,

of tomato plant at the beginning of transplantation

while the other section has not been fertigated.

in study area is almost same. Further, the height of

Keeping it in view, fertigation was not provided in

plants with varying flow rate is critically studied and

the first section. On the other hand, fertigation was

it is shown in Fig 3a. For healthy growth of a plant,

provided only to those plants, which was in second

it is necessary that adequate amount of soil moisture

section. In second section, fertilizer was mixed

is present in the root zone. Figure 3a also depict that

with water and further it was applied through drip

2 litres per hour provide the perfect soil moisture

irrigation. Growth and yield of tomato plants in both

zone for the healthy growth of plant. Thus, the row

sections has been measured and further the effect of

of tomato plantation which was getting 2 litres per

fertigation through drip irrigation was estimated.

second water through drip irrigation has better

growth rate than other two flow rate. The maximum

Results and Discussion

average heights of plants were measured as 28, 26.8

In this section, analysis of growth rate of tomato

and 25 cm for the flow rate of 2 L/hr, 4 L/hr and 8 L/hr

plant at different flow rates, effect of fertigation on

respectively after thirteenth week of transplantation.

growth and yield of tomato and comparison of yield

The average increment in the height of tomato plants

of tomato at different flow rate of drip irrigation are

at flow rate of 2, 4 and 8 L/hr were estimated 68%,

presented and discussed.

60% and 52% respectively.

Further, the average crown spread of each

Growth rate of tomato plant at different flow rates

row of tomato plants were estimated which is

of drip irrigation

shown graphically in Figure 3b. At the time of

Water flowing through drip irrigation is in the

transplantation, the average initial crown spread

form of drops and the rate at which these drops are

was estimated as 9.8, 9 and 9.3 cm for the flow rate

absorbed by soil is one of the factors responsible

of 2 L/hr, 4 L/hr and 8 L/hr respectively. However,

for healthy growth of plant. In this study, irrigation

maximum average crown spread were calculated

through drip at different flow rate is closely analyzed.

as 17.6, 16 and 14.6 cm for the flow rate of 2 L/hr,

Growth of tomato plants in terms of height and

4 L/hr and 8 L/hr respectively. The total increases

crown spread were measured in weekly basis for

in average crown spread were recorded as 7.8, 6.5

each flow rate of emitter. Variation of plant’s height

and 5.3 cm for flow rate of 2 L/hr, 4 L/hr and 8 L/hr

with time for different flow rate (2 L/hr, 4 L/hr and

respectively. So flow rate of 2 L/hr has better crown

8 L/hr) can be seen in Figure 3a. The initial height

spread area.

(a) Variation of tomato plant height at different flow rate

(b) Variation of crown spread at different flow rate

Figure 3. Variation in physical features of tomato plantation at different flow rate of drip irrigation

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