Effect of Drip Irrigation Methods Mulched and Without Mulch on Water Use and Production of Tomato Crop (Lycopersicon esculentum ) under Organic Farming

Abstract

The study was carried out in Zahed Research Station , Tartous agricultural research center, during 2023 , two methods of drip irrigation were applied mulched, without mulch on tomato crop to be compared with the traditional method (surface irrigation).

the results showed that the average of the total water consumption for the drip irrigation (mulched) was 3345m³/ha and percentage of saving water irrigation was 55% as compared with control (traditional surface irrigation), while the average of the total water consumption for the drip irrigation (without mulch) was 3785 m³/ha and percentage of saving water irrigation was 49% as compared with control, although the average of the total water consumption for the traditional surface irrigation was 7426m³/ha. in terms of farming method (traditional and organic) the production under drip irrigation (mulched) were 38.4 and 45.1 ton/ha with an increase in yield 97 and 106%  as compared with control (surface irrigation),which were 18.6 and 22.9 ton/ha (traditional and organic) respectively. on the other hand the production under drip irrigation (without mulch) , in terms of farming method  (traditional and organic) were 29.7 and 38.4 ton/ha, with an increment in yield of (60 and 68%) respectively as compared with the control.