Evaluation of irrigation scheduling to maximize tomato production using comparative assessment of soil moisture and evapotranspiration in restricted irrigated regions

AbstractEvaluating and comparing two different irrigation scheduling methods like soil moisture (SM) and evapotranspiration (ET)-based irrigation scheduling methods were assessed scientifically to maximize tomato yield, especially in areas where restricted irrigation facilities are available. The experimental design was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 100%, 75%, and 50% water requirements with three replications. The water was applied to furrows using Randomized Block Design (RBC) flume with an inflow rate of 1.62 l/s. The total amount of water applied in SM- and ET-based methods were 229.1 mm and 280 mm, respectively. The collected data were analyzed using ANOVA (statistical software) at 5% significance level. Values on agronomic characteristics, yield attributes, and yield were determined for those two methods. T1–T6 are the total treatments used in this research. Out of which, T1, T2, and T3 are taken as SM-based represented for 100%, 75%, and 50% of requirements and T4, T5, and T6 as ET-based represented for the same percentage of requirements. The results did not illustrate a huge difference in yield potential. The highest net benefit on yield was obtained at T2 (SM-based), whereas the lowest in T6 (ET-based). It was also observed that SM-based method saved around 18.2% of irrigation water compared to ET-based approach. Therefore, to cultivate high water demanding crops such as tomato in water scarce areas, SM-based irrigation scheduling method is comparatively better than ET-based as far as yield is concerned