Soil moisture distribution studies under drip irrigation in soils of Marathwada (M.S.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2017-2018 at AICRP on Water Management, VNMKV, Parbhani to study the effect of drip irrigation supplies on soil moisture distribution, yield of cabbage under different irrigation schedules and fertigation levels. Drip method with alternate day irrigation was adopted for all the plots with five irrigation levels as main plot viz., 0.4 ETc (I1), 0.6 ETc (I2), 0.8 ETc (I3), 1.0 ETc (I4) and 1.2 ETc (I5). Fertigation levels were 50% (F1), 75% (F2) and 100% (F3) of recommended dose of fertilizers (120:60:60; N: P2O5:K2O kg ha-1) with eight splits during crop growth period. Under all irrigation depths the moisture content in surface soil layer (0-15 cm) was higher and lie between 32 to 38 per cent throughout the irrigation cycle whereas in 15-30 cm layer it is in between 30 to 36 per cent. Increase in irrigation level was found to increase the moisture content in both the layers. The moisture content below the emitter was always higher and it was found to decrease horizontally away from the emitter.