Productivity and Profitability of Tomato Due to Irrigation Frequency and Mulch

The scarcity of water requires its judicious application and conservation for Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) production. Tomato was grown during Nov.–Mar. 2003–2005 under the following irrigation regimes: rainfed or irrigation when cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) reached 50 mm (CPE50) or 25 mm (CPE25) and the following mulch treatments: none, rice straw, and white or black polyethylene. Fruit yield increased with increased irrigation frequency. Mulch enhanced fruit yield by 23%–58% over no mulch. The cost–benefit (CB) ratio increased with an increase in irrigation frequency. Rice straw, which is less costly and easily available, had the highest CB ratio (1:3.1) in all moisture conditions, followed by black polyethylene (1:2.9). Use of black polyethylene when water is scarce (rainfed, CPE50) has the potential to increase income compared to plants in bare soil when water is plentiful.