Science Letters

Multi-locational trials to compare the relative water use and vegetable crops productivity by drip irrigation and conventional furrow irrigation systems in district Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan

Muhammad Asif 1*, Muhammad Akram 2, Arfan Ali 1

1District Agriculture Office, On Farm Water Management, Rijana Road, Zila Council Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, Pakistan

2Project Director Office, On Farm Water Management, Agriculture House, 21-Davis Road, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Multi-location trials to compare the relative water use and vegetable crops productivity by drip irrigation and conventional furrow irrigation systems were carried out for two years (2012-13 and 2013-14) on off season vegetables grown under plastic tunnels at 16 sites in district Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan. Data pooled from these trials showed that compared to furrow irrigation, drip irrigation increased off season vegetables yield on an average by 24% with reduced application of fertilizer, pesticides and water by 55%, 19% and 65%, respectively. All the crops consumed less water under drip irrigation as compared to furrow irrigation system. Average water use efficiency increased by 62% for capsicum, 64% for cucumber, 58% for green papers, 53% for tomato and 52% for bitter gourd under drip irrigation system as compared to furrow system. Drip system increased net profit on an average by 52% as compared to conventional surface irrigation with a higher benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 2.33. The vegetable growers were also asked to answer the in-depth farm level survey regarding benefits of use of drip irrigation to verify the results of the above studies. The survey results showed that drip irrigation has been widely adopted for vegetable crop in the district. Although capital cost and managerial expertise for using the drip irrigation system are high, a farmer participatory appraisal showed that adoption of this irrigation system is rapidly increasing in the district. Most serious issue for growers in the district is non availability of spare parts and clogging of emitters. These findings indicate an urgent need for Research and Development (R&D) for better operation and maintenance of drip irrigation system and proper irrigation scheduling using this technology.

Keywords Off season vegetables, drip irrigation, water use efficiency.

Received February 10, 2016 Accepted March 30, 2016 Abstract Published April 05, 2016 Manuscript Published April 15, 2016

*Corresponding author Muhammad Asif E-mail drasifpk@gmail.com