M.A. Razzaque Akanda
Senior Scientific Officer
IWM Division, BARI, Gazipur
Alimur Rahman
Scientific officer
OFRD, Barind, Rajshahi
M. S. Islam
Principal Scientific Officer
IWM Division, BARI, Gazipur
Fertigation system appeared technically feasible and economically viable for tomato and brinjal cultivation. This on-farm trial was done in Barind area of Godagari upzilla in Rajshahi district in collaboration with on-farm research division of BARI during 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. The highest tomato yields of 52.96 t/ha and 35.14 t/ha were obtained in drip irrigation at an interval of 3 days with fertilizer doses N100 P100 K80 kg/ha during 2005-2006 and 2006-2007, respectively. The highest brinjal yield of 34.17 t/ha in 2005-2006 and 20.17 t/ha in 2006-2007 were also obtained from the study area. The lowest yields of 38.17 t/ha and 21.23 t/ha for tomato and 27.02 t/ha and 14.68 t/ha for brinjal were obtained in furrow irrigation with higher doses of fertilizer in both the years. The fertigation system saved 50-55% of Urea, 35-36% of MP and 48-50% of irrigation water. The incremental rate of returns were 2.85 for tomato and 2.54 for brinjal in 2005-2006 and the same were 2.43 for tomato and 1.67 for brinjal in 2006-2007. From the two year’s average the incremental rate of returns were found 2.13 for tomato and 2.76 for brinjal.
Tomato, brinjal, fertigation, incremental rate of return, drip irrigation
Kodomsalar, Godagari upazilla, Rajshahi district in the barind area
Crop-Soil-Water Management
This study was conducted to test the performance of the system during the rabi seasons of 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 at farmer’s level in Barind area where irrigation water is scarce.
The field experiment was conducted at the farmer’s field in the village; Kodomsalar of Godagari upazilla under Rajshahi district in the barind area during the rabi seasons of 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. The soil was clay loam with bulk density 1.52gm/cc. The variety of tomato was shurakha in both the years and for brinjal, it was BARI Begun-4 (kazla) for the 1st year and a local variety (Kata begun) for the second year.
The experiment was conducted with the following treatment combinations:
T1 = Furrow irrigation at 10 days interval with fertilizer does N205 P100 K125 kg/ha
(farmers’ practice)
T2 = Drip irrigation at an alternate day with fertilizer doses N100 P100 K80 kg/ha
T3 = Drip irrigation at 3 days interval with N100 P100 K80 kg/ha
The treatments were replicated in four. Tomato seedlings of 30 days old were planted on October 21, 2005 and August 20, 2006. Brinjal seedlings were planted on October 21, 2005 and August 25, 2006. The unit plot size of tomato was 2.4×3.2 m and that of brinjal was 3.6×3.0. Irrigation was applied through drip system at every alternate day and at three days interval meeting crop ET. Hose pipes were used to irrigate in furrows from nearby shallow tubewell. The furrow irrigation was applied upto field capacity at an interval of 10 days. Fertigation was applied on November 11, 2005; December 2, 2005 and December 20, 2005 for tomato and November 10, 2005; November 25, 2005; December 18, 2005 for brinjal during 2005-2006. In 2006-2007, the corresponding dates were September 29, 2006, October 16, 2006 and November 15, 2006 for tomato and November 11, December 15, 2006 and January 2, 2007 for brinjal.
BARI annual report 2006-2007
From the two years study, it is clear that the fertigation method produces higher yield than traditional irrigation system by applying less water and fertilizer. It saves fertilizer, water as well as production cost. It is now, proven technically and economically suitable for tomato cultivation at on-station as well as at farmers' level. From this inference, it is expected that the fertigation system will also be technically suitable and economically viable for other high value horticultural crops.
Report/Proceedings