Influence of Mulching and Pressurized Irrigation System on Cost Economics of Grafted Brinjal (Solanum. melongena L.)

Field studies were conducted at PFDC farm, of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to evaluate the influence of plastic mulching on cost economics (returns from the field interms of yield) of grafted brinjal under drip irrigation. The experiments were laid in Strip Plot Design with twenty seven treatments which included three mulching levels such as 25 μ thickness plastic mulch, 50 μ thickness plastic mulch and control; three Irrigation levels at 60 per cent ET0, 80 per cent ET0 and 100 per cent ET0 and three fertigation levels with 80 per cent, 100 per cent and 120 per cent RDF which were replicated thrice. Daily water requirement was calculated based monthly average evaporation the results showed that total water requirement for the growth period under drip irrigation has saved 16.17 per cent of water with mulch compared to without mulch condition. It’s observed that the highest yield of 83.3 t.ha under 25 μ thickness plastic mulch at 80 per cent ET0 level and 100 per cent RDF with benefit cost ratio of 8.68 compared to all other treatments and lowest yield of 18.1 t.ha in control plot with 60 per cent ET0 and 80 per cent RDF. It can be concluded that the advance irrigation technologies like drip irrigation combined with mulch can play a important role in increasing the productivity hence the net returns can be increased.