Application of various mulching treatments with pitcher irrigation for yield of tomato (Lycopersicom esculentum) in red and laterite soil

Abstract

Abstract: Mulch along with pitcher irrigation technique enhances water use efficiency by checking
evaporation and thereby conserves soil moisture, which in turn enhances microbial activities as a
result of increased organic matter through decomposition of these residues. It results in improved
soil aggregation and suitability. It also protects the soil and reduces crust formation, controls soil
erosion and increases the water holding capacity. Pitcher irrigation, a traditional system of irrigation
is an alternative to drip method which is the latest advancement and effective innovation of
localized methods of irrigation and found suitable where water scarcity becomes a major stress for
crop production. In order to assess the effectiveness of vegetable crop production by pitcher pot
irrigation with mulch in different season and conserving water towards increasing of crop
productivity in Red & Lateritic Zones of West Bengal. The experiment was conducted with five
treatments combinations viz. T1 - Pitcher irrigation + live mulch (black gram),T2 - Pitcher irrigation
+ coco coir mulch,T3 – Pitcher pot irrigation + jute fibre mulch,T4 - Pitcher pot irrigation + babui
grass mulch and T5 – Pitcher pot irrigation + no mulch (i.e. control). The result found that
application of mulch with pitcher irrigation increased yield of tomato.