On Farm Evaluation of Mulching Materials and Irrigation Methods on Water Productivity and Yield of Tomato

The primary production barrier in the arid and semi-arid regions of the eastern Hararghe zone is the issue of irrigation water scarcity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of irrigation methods and mulching materials on water productivity, water retention and yield of tomato crop. The experiment was laid out in factorial design arranged in RCBD consisting of six treatments with three replication. The treatment combination were Conventional Furrow Irrigation with white plastic mulch (CFI+WPM), Conventional Furrow Irrigation with grass mulch (CFI+GM), Conventional Furrow Irrigation with no mulch (CFI+NM), alternative furrow irrigation with white plastic mulch (AFI+WPM), alternative furrow irrigation with grass mulch (AFI+GM) and alternative furrow irrigation with no mulch (AFI+NM). The finding shown that, Maximum yield (33.68 t/ha) was obtained by conventional furrow irrigation with grass mulch treatment while the lowest yield of 22.08 t/ha was obtained by alternative furrow irrigation with no mulch treatment. The study revealed that, Maximum water productivity (12.636 kg/m<sup>3</sup>) was obtained by application of alternative furrow irrigation with grass mulch treatment. Even though maximum yield was obtained by treatment of conventional furrow irrigation with grass mulch, irrigation water productivity of this treatment was not more attractive due to high consumption of irrigation water by conventional irrigation method. The economic analysis of this finding shown that, maximum benefit cost ratio (BCR) was obtained by alternative furrow irrigation with grass mulching treatment. In terms of increasing water holding capacity of the soil, white plastic mulch with conventional furrow irrigation produce maximum water retention. From the result minimum water retention was obtained by alternative furrow irrigation method with no mulch treatments. Based on result obtained, application of grass mulch with alternative furrow irrigation method was recommended as best technology for improving irrigation water productivity. Since grass mulch is applicable in both cost and availability, it should be practiced by all irrigation users.