Vol. 7, Issue 12, Part A (2025)

The study was conducted to evaluate the influence of different mulching materials and irrigation methods on the growth, soil properties, and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The experiment was laid out over a 200 m² area (16 m × 12.5 m) and comprised four treatments: plastic polythene mulch with drip irrigation (A), coconut coir mulch with drip irrigation (S), drip irrigation without mulch (M), and control (K) under conventional furrow irrigation. The drip irrigation system was designed and installed to deliver uniform water distribution, while crop water requirements were estimated using the FAO CROPWAT 9.0 model based on climatic and soil parameters. Results indicated that drip irrigation, particularly when combined with mulching, significantly improved soil moisture retention and reduced bulk density compared to conventional irrigation. The highest tomato yield (2.018 t/ha) was obtained under plastic mulch with drip irrigation (A), followed by coconut coir mulch with drip irrigation (1.412 t/ha), drip without mulch (1.405 t/ha), and the lowest yield (0.873 t/ha) under control conditions. The improvement in yield under mulched drip treatments was attributed to better soil moisture conservation, enhanced nutrient availability, and reduced evaporation losses. Overall, the study concludes that the combination of plastic mulch and drip irrigation is the most efficient water management practice for improving soil conditions and maximizing tomato yield under the agro-climatic conditions of Surampalem.