Journal Of Applied Horticulture ISSN: 0972-1045



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Berhanu Kebebew and Ketema Tilahun

Oromia Irrigation Development Authority, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Haramaya University, Ethiopia.Present address: School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga,NSW 2678, Australia

Key words: Crop factor, drip irrigation, Ethiopia, tomato, water use efficiency.

Journal of Applied Horticulture, 2009, volume 11, issue 1, pages 31-34.

Abstract: Efficient irrigation is essential for sustainable use of available water resources. A field experiment was conducted on two tomato cultivars (Melka Shola and Melkassa Marglobe) and four irrigation deficit levels (0%ETc, 25%ETc, 50%ETc, and 75%ETc). The objective was to determine crop factor (Kf) and water use efficiency (WUE). The Kcf values of 0.62, 0.65, 0.70, and 0.71 during the respective four growth stages of the crop were determined. The highest (91.23 kg ha1 mm1) and lowest (81.62 kg ha1 mm1) water use efficiencies were recorded in 25 and 0% deficit levels, respectively. The yield and WUE of Melka Shola cultivar was higher than that of Melkassa Marglobe. Generally, it was found that irrigating the tomato crop with 75% of ETc (i.e. 25%ETc deficit) is the best irrigation practice in the area. In terms of both yield and WUE, Melka Shola tomato cultivar was found to perform better than Melkassa Marglobe.



Journal of Applied Horticulture