Effect of types of micro irrigation and mulching on yield, water productivity, water use efficiency and economics of bhindi

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala, to evaluate the efficacy of micro irrigation and mulching on growth and yield of bhindi in rain shelter. The experiment was carried out in a split plot design with four replications. The treatment consisted of 5 main plot treatments (i₁: Surface drip irrigation, i₂: Rain hose irrigation, i₃: Sub surface drip irrigation at 10 cm, i₄: Sub surface drip irrigation at 15 cm, i₅: Sub surface drip irrigation at 20 cm) and 2 sub plot treatments (m₁: No mulch, m₂: Organic mulch). Dry banana leaves available in the area was used as organic mulch @ 10 t ha^-1. Results of the study revealed that types of irrigation had significant influence on yield and yield attributes, water productivity, water use efficiency and economics of bhindi. Sub surface drip irrigation at 10 cm depth recorded the highest fruit yield m^-2 (2.29 kg). Water productivity and water use efficiency was 45% and 27% higher in sub surface drip irrigation at 10 cm depth than rain hose irrigation. Significantly higher net returns (? 5.31 lakhs ha^-1) and B: C ratio (2.39) were observed in sub surface drip irrigation at 10 cm depth, which was on par with sub surface drip irrigation at 15 cm depth. Based on the findings of the study, sub surface drip irrigation at 10 cm depth along with organic mulching can be recommended for bhindi cultivation for obtaining higher yield, water use efficiency and economics.