A study was carried out during the winter season of 2002 and 2003 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, to determine the optimum spacing and drip irrigation interval and its effect on growth, yield and water use efficiency of indeterminate tomato (cv. Tolstoi). The treatments comprised 3 levels of spacing (60×40, 60×50 and 60×60 cm) and 3 irrigation scheduling (irrigation at an alternate day, at 2 days interval and at 3 days interval). There were a total of 10 treatments, including surface irrigation. The greatest plant height (176.1 cm) and fruit yield (109.48 t/ha) were obtained at 60×30 cm spacing, whereas number of branches (13.1), number of fruits per plant (69.2), fruit weight (79.78 g), fruit yield per plant (5.45 kg) and water use efficiency (5.12-5.21 t/ha-cm) were highest at 60×60 cm spacing. Drip irrigation at an alternate day significantly improved the plant height (177.6), fruit yield per plant (5.19 kg) and total yield (96.37 t/ha) over the longer intervals. In general, drip irrigation considerably enhanced most of the growth and yield parameters over surface irrigation. The highest fruit yield (114.93 t/ha) was recorded when the plants were spaced at 60×40 cm and drip irrigation was scheduled at an alternate day.

branches, crop yield, fruits, growth, irrigation scheduling,optimization, plant height, plant water relations, spacing, tomatoes,trickle irrigation, water use efficiency, India, Uttar Pradesh,Lycopersicon esculentum, South Asia, Asia, Developing Countries,Commonwealth of Nations, Lycopersicon, Solanaceae, Solanales,dicotyledons, angiosperms, Spermatophyta, plants, India, HorticulturalCrops (FF003) (New March 2000), Plant Water Relations (FF062), PlantProduction (FF100), Soil Water Management (Irrigation and Drainage)(JJ800) (Revised June 2002) [formerly Soil Water Management]

• Journal Article

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