Drip irrigation with fertigation in soil-less media for tomato under controlled cultivation

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted at Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during 2009 to 2010 to study the effect of drip irrigation with fertigation in soil-less culture under controlled cultivation for Tomato. The highest yield per plant (2.16 kg/plant) and yield per hectare (112 t/ha) was registered in Peat:Vermicompost (T₄F₂ ) and the lowest yield per plant was recorded in Coir pith :Vermicompost (T₂F₁) (1.07 kg and 55.48 t/ha) under polyhouse condition. The highest water use efficiency (1972.87 kg/ha cm) was obtained in T₄F₂ and the lowest was obtained in T₂F₂ (977.30 kg/ha cm) in poly house. The highest N fertilizer use efficiency (700 kg/ ha.kg of N) was recorded in T₄F₂ at 80 % of fertigation and the least efficiency was noted in T₂F₁ (277 kg/ ha kg of N). The highest K fertilizer use efficiency (560 kg/ ha.kg of K) was recorded in T₄F₂ at 80 % of fertigation and the least efficiency (222 kg /ha.kg of K) was noted in T₂F₁. The highest benefit cost ratio 2.33 was recorded in T₄F₂. The results of the study indicated that the controlled cultivation of tomato in soil-less media has more benefits, in terms of yield, water and fertilizer use efficiency, and benefit cost ratio.