Evaluation Of Comparative Water Use Efficiency Of Furrow And Drip Irrigation Systems For Off-Season Vegetables Under Plastic Tunnel

Three vegetables (tomato, cucumber and bell pepper) were grown in plastic tunnels as off- season crops for three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 to evaluate comparative water use efficiency. A permanent tunnel of 80 x 27 x 10 ft was erected. Irrigation was applied though drip and furrow irrigation systems. Each crop was planted on 20 x 27 ft under drip irrigation and on 20 x 9 ft under furrow irrigation system. Water use efficiency was calculated as ratio of total yield (kg) to total water consumed by the crop (m 3 ). All three crops consumed less water under drip irrigation as compared to furrow irrigation system. Average water use efficiency increased by 250% for tomato, 274% for cucumber and 245% for bell pepper under drip irrigation system as compared to furrow system. On the contrary, the average fruit yield increased only by 2.05% for tomato, 3.32% for cucumber and 2.35% for bell pepper from furrow irrigated plots over those of drip irrigated plots. This suggested that drip irrigation has a greater scope for production of off-season vegetables especially in water scarce areas of Pakistan.