Vol. 8, Issue 12, Part R (2025)
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the in Pudur Mandal, Telangana, to evaluate the effects of plastic mulching and deficit drip irrigation on tomato growth, yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and economics. Treatments included 50% ET + mulch (T1), 80% ET + mulch (T2), 100% ET + mulch (T3), and 100% ET without mulch (T4). Vegetative growth was significantly influenced by the treatments, with T3 recording maximum plant height (118.7 cm), branches per plant (8.3), leaf area index (3.29), and dry matter accumulation (562 g plant⁻¹), followed by T2. Lower growth under T1 and T4 was attributed to limited soil moisture and higher evaporative losses. Yield components and total fruit yield were highest in T3 (57.87 t ha⁻¹), while moderate deficit irrigation under T2 produced 52.58 t ha⁻¹, saving 20% water and demonstrating agronomic efficiency. Phenological traits improved under mulching, with earlier 50% flowering and higher fruit set (74.0% in T3). Water applied ranged from 26.2 cm (T1) to 52.4 cm (T3 and T4), with maximum WUE observed in T1 (1.67 t ha⁻¹-cm) and lowest in T4 (0.80 t ha⁻¹-cm). Economic analysis indicated that T3 achieved the highest net returns (₹3,82,400 ha⁻¹) and B:C ratio (3.52), while T2 offered substantial returns with water savings. Overall, combining plastic mulch with 80-100% ET irrigation enhanced growth, yield, WUE, and profitability, suggesting that mulching with moderate deficit irrigation is a sustainable strategy for tomato cultivation under semi-arid conditions.
