Response of trickle irrigation regimes and lateral spacing on cumin productivity under triangular emitter configurations

Abstract

Cumin is a cash crop with a short growing cycle which demands little moisture and nutrient inputs. Determination of optimum water requirement which is function of soil crop and atmosphere is needed for achieving more profit and higher productivity per unit of water. Trickle irrigation is considered to be appropriate method for area of limited water resources due to high efficiency of water use under good management. Efficient design and management of trickle irrigation system needs a prior knowledge on lateral spacing, emitter spacing, and emitter discharge synchronizing with the soil characteristics. The emitter configuration also plays vital role in the productivity of closed growing crops. In present study triangle emitter configurations are adopted. Triangular emitter configuration is better suited in closed growing field crops because of low unwetted area per square meter. Assuming plants’ response to water limited condition is a complex phenomenon due to specific morphological and developmental mechanisms with physiological and bio chemical change. Keeping in view, a field experiment was undertaken to access the conjugate impact of three irrigation regimes (0.6 IW/ETc, 0.8 IW/ETc and1.0 IW/ETc) and three lateral spacing (0.60 m, 0.70 m and 0.80 m) under triangular emitter configurations on productivity of cumin. Split plot design with three treatment replications was adopted. Drip irrigation with 0.8 IW/ETc resulted higher seed yield, plant height and dry matter of 1419.2 kg/ha, 34 cm and 2495 kg/ha respectively at 0.8 IW/ETc with lateral spacing 0.6 m as compared to other treatments. Highest water use efficiency (5.6 kg/ha.mm) was observed at 0.6 IW/ETc with 0.60 m lateral spacing. Highest B:C ratio (2.39) observed at 0.8 IW/ETc with lateral spacing 0.6m as compared to other treatments.