Yield, water use and economics of tuberose as influenced by different irrigation scheduling in Indo-Gangetic plains

Abstract

Optimum schedule of irrigation in limited water resources is a vital issue for sustainable production of ornamental plants. A field investigation was conducted during 2012-2013 at the experimental field of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India to study the effect of three irrigation schedule viz., IW/CPE 0.4, IW/CPE 0.8 and IW/CPE 1.0 and three varieties viz., Prajwal, Calcutta single and Calcutta double on yield, water use and economics of tuberose. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The results of the study showed that higher irrigation schedule at IW/CPE 1.0 significantly increased the spike and bulb yields of plant, being comparative with moderate deficit irrigation schedule at IW/CPE 0.8. The performance of Calcutta double was better than Calcutta single and Prajwal in increasing yield at all irrigation levels, the more so in higher irrigation schedule than in lower deficit irrigation schedule. However, in view of moderate water use, higher yield and maximum economic returns, moderate deficit irrigation scheduling of IW/CPE 0.8 for Calcutta double or Calcutta single may be advocated for tuberose cultivators in Indo-Gangetic plains of West Bengal.