Effect of drip and furrow irrigation and plant spacing on yield of tomato at Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Higher yields and increased water use efficiency has been very often attributed to drip irrigation than the conventional furrow irrigation. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of drip and furrow irrigation systems and plant spacing on the yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. Marglobe) and water use efficiency. The experiment was conducted at Dire Dawa, Ethiopia on a deep clay loam soil in the rain-free period of the 1991/1992 and 1992/1993 seasons. Two types of emitters, self-compensating and inline emitters, were used for the drip system with a discharge of 0.9 1/h and 1.2 1/h, respectively. Tomato was grown at spacing of 35 cm, 50 cm and 70 cm between plants. Higher yields of tomato were obtained with drip irrigation in both seasons as compared to furrow irrigation. No significant difference in yield was found in the 1992/1993 season among the two types of emitters. A similar trend was also observed on the effect of irrigation systems on fruit size and plant height. Plant spacing did not show any significant effect on fruit size and plant heights in both seasons. No plant spacing X irrigation interaction was observed for yield, fruit size, and plant heights in all the seasons. The water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation application efficiency were determined for both irrigation systems, and it was found that the drip system showed the highest values as compared to furrow irrigation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.