Performance of Tomato under Subsurface Drip Irrigation Laterals placed at various Depths in Inceptisols

Tomato is one of the important vegetable crops for nutrition security. The vegetables respond very well to proper irrigation water management towards increasing yield. A study on response of tomato under subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) with laterals placed at 5 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm depth below soil surface was carried out in inceptisols at ICAR- Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi. It was found that soil water content variation was less and more favorable within top 30 cm depth of soil profile under SDI with lateral placed at 10 cm depth below soil surface. The maximum yield of tomato 52.85 t/ha was realized under SDI with lateral placed at 10 cm depth below soil surface followed by yield under 15 cm and 5 cm depth of lateral placement. It was 14.67% higher than the surface drip irrigation. The lowest yield of tomato was recorded 46.09 t/ha with surface drip irrigation. Maximum water use efficiency 1.968 t/ha-cm was obtained with SDI lateral placed at 10 cm depth below soil surface. To realize maximum yield and water use efficiency of tomato, SDI laterals could be placed at 10 cm depth below soil surface.