PRODUCTION, WATER USE EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMICS OF BOTTLE GOURD (Lagenaria siceraria) UNDER DRIP FERTIGATION

M.V. KHANDAGALE¹*, K.D. KALE², M.S. MANE³, D.D. KHEDKAR⁴, N.J. DANAWALE^5
1Inter faculty Department of Irrigation Water Management, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, 413 722, Ahmednagar, India
²Inter faculty Department of Irrigation Water Management, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, 413 722, Ahmednagar, India
³Inter faculty Department of Irrigation Water Management, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, 413 722, Ahmednagar, India
⁴Inter faculty Department of Irrigation Water Management, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, 413 722, Ahmednagar, India
⁵Inter faculty Department of Irrigation Water Management, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, 413 722, Ahmednagar, India
* Corresponding Author : mayurikhandagale254@gmail.com

Received : 03-12-2022     Accepted : 27-12-2022     Published : 30-12-2022
Volume : 14     Issue : 12       Pages : 12014 - 12017
Int J Agr Sci 14.12 (2022):12014-12017

Keywords : Drip fertigation, Bottle gourd productivity, Water soluble fertilizers, Water use and economics
Academic Editor : Dr R. S. Umakanth
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Inter faculty Department of Irrigation Water Management, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, 413 722, Ahmednagar, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

The Field experiment was conducted during the year 2020-2021. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design with ten treatments replicated three times. Bottle Gourd crop was planted by hand dibbling on 2nd Jan, 2021 at 2 x 1 m spacing. The results indicated that treatment of drip irrigation with 100 % recommended dose of fertilizer through fertigation as per growth stages (T1) recorded significantly higher growth and yield contributing characters of bottle gourd. The significantly higher yield of bottle gourd was recorded in the treatment of drip irrigation with 100 % recommended dose of fertilizer through fertigation as per growth stages (T1, 39.19 t ha-1). However, it was at par with the treatment of 100% RDF through fertigation in 18 equal splits (T4 38.20 t ha-1) and treatment of drip irrigation with 80% recommended dose of fertilizer through fertigation as per growth stages (T2 37.38 t ha-1). The drip irrigation method used lowest water use of 495 mm as compared with 875 mm in surface irrigation method thus recorded the 43.42% water saving. In terms of economics, the treatment T1 was profitable with higher net seasonal income of Rs. 284435 ha-1 followed by T4 (Rs. 274535 ha-1) and T2 (Rs. 268543 ha-1) with B:C ratio 3.65, 3.55, 3.52 respectively. On the basis of the results obtained, it can be concluded that drip irrigation with 80% recommended dose of fertilizer through fertigation as per growth stages is the best treatment for higher yield, and monetary returns from bottle gourd crop. (var. Samrat) cultivated in medium deep soils of Maharashtra with 20% fertilizer savings

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