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Effect of Urea Application through Drip Irrigation on Yield, Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Summer Bitter Gourd

S. Goswami, S. Saha

Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (Agriculture University)

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is one of the important vegetable crops grown during summer months in high lands of Lower Gangetic Plains. Crop is very much responsive to water and nutrient but water is limiting in dry summer months. Farmers generally adopt furrow irrigation and hand watering with pitcher for growing this crop. Drip irrigation is a new dimension for increasing crop water productivity. An attempt has been made to assess the production potential and water use efficiency of summer bitter gourd under drip irrigation with N-fertigation through low cost gravity drip system during 2001-2004. Three drip water supply levels based on the replenishment rate of ET_c: I₁- 75% (0.75 ET_c), I₂ – 100% (1.0 ET_c)_,I₃– 125% (1.25 ET_c) were tested with N-fertigation (F) as urea in 10 schedules at weekly interval and soil application (S) of N @ 100 kg ha^-1 taking control as surface irrigation (IW:CPE = 1.0, IW-50 mm). On-line pressure compensating button type dripper was used with discharge rate 1.8 litre hour^-1. The alternate day irrigation frequency was maintained for early period but it was daily at later stages. Crop was raised with recommended agro-techniques. Production potential, water used and its efficiency (WUE) was calculated. The productivity of summer bitter gourd was significantly influenced by methods of N-fertilization and water scheduling through gravity drip system. Drip irrigation along with fertigation increased the yield upto 193% as compared to surface irrigation. Irrigation at 1.0 ET_cwas the best considering the higher yield and water use efficiency of summer bitter gourd. Drip irrigation saved 20 to 41% of water and nitrogen over surface irrigation. N-fertigation increased the water and nutrient use efficiency by 2-3 folds as compared to surface irrigation along with N-soil application.

Keyword: Bitter gourd, drip irrigation, N-fertigation, precision application, vegetables

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