Kumar et al.

were found by 169 %, 162 % and 134% respectively,

leaching and also yield of the crop can reduce. In the

which is more than the non- fertigated plants.

present study, it has been shown that if the flow rate

It can be seen from Table 3 that fruiting in

of water in dripper is up to 2 litres per hour, then

fertigated tomato plants started from third week of

the yield will be maximum. Also at this flow rate,

transplantation for 2 L/hr and 4 L/hr of flow rate

uptake of fertilizers through the plant root zone will

where as in case of 8 L/hr flow rate flowering start

be maximum.

from fourth week of transplantation. Maximum 29,

Conclusion

20 and 19 number of flowers was counted at flow

rate of 2 L/hr, 4 L/hr and 8 L/hr respectively. Details

The primary goal of this study was to analysis the

variation of fruiting with time for different flow rate

growth rate of tomato plant at different flow rates

of 2 L/hr, 4 L/hr and 8 L/hr are presented in Figure 5.

of drip irrigation, to compare the yield of tomato

at different flow rate and to determine the effect of

The yield of fertigated tomato plants at different flow

fertigation through drip irrigation on growth and

rate of drip irrigation was estimated and presented

yield of tomato. For experimentation, a rectangular

in Table 4. Total yield of fertigated tomato plants 8.4,

farm area of 6 m×5 m was prepared for the cultivation

6.1 and 5.2 kg was estimated at flow rate of 2L/hr, 4L/

of tomato through drip irrigation. The “Samartha F1

hr and 8L/hr respectively.

hybrid” variety of tomato seed was selected for this

study on the basis of environment, sustainability,

Table 4. Yield of fertigated tomato plants at different flow

adaptability and availability in local market. Whole

rates

farm area was divided into two sections and each

Serial No.

Flow rate (L/hr)

Yield (kg)

section having three ridges. The recommended

fertilizer was provided in only one section with the

1

2

8.4

three different flow rates of 2L/hr, 4L/hr and 8L/hr in

2

4

6.1

three different ridges. Only irrigation was provided

3

8

5.2

with three different flow rates of 2L/hr, 4L/hr and 8L/

hr in three different ridges in other section. Growth

The comparison of yield of ferigated tomato plants at

of tomato plants in terms of height and crown spread

different flow rates are presented in Figure 6.

(canopy) were measured in weekly basis for each

flow rate. Effect of fertigation on growth and yield

of tomato plants were estimated at different flow

rate of drip irrigation. The results suggest that when

tomato field is cultivated with irrigation of 2 litres

per second, the overall development of the tomato

crop as well as the yield is maximum. Moreover,

controlled fertigation at the same flow rate enhance

the productivity of the tomato cropping.

References

Figure 6. Yield of tomato (kg) at different flow rate

Afolayan, SO, Ogedengbe, K, Lateef, SA, Akintola, OA, and

From Table 4 and Figure 6, it can be concluded that

Oladele, OJ (2014) Response of tomato (Lycopersicium

rate of application of irrigated water through drip

lycopersicun, CV UC82B) to drip irrigation and planting

conditions. African Journal of Agricultural Research 9 (20):

irrigation plays a very vital role on the overall yield

1543-1549. http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/ajar2012.476

of the crop. If the flow rate will not be optimally

Al-Ghobari, HM (2014) The assessment of automatic

decided, then there will be loss of fertilizer through

irrigation scheduling techniques on tomato yield and

18