Productivity and Profitability of Elephant Foot Yam under Drip and Flood Irrigation.

Abstract

Productivity and profitability of elephant foot yam under drip and flood irrigation was worked out, based on the data collected from field experiments carried out at ICAR-CTCRI, Thiruvananthapuram, during two years, 2013-14 and 2014-15. The experiment consisted of two methods of irrigation (Drip and Flood methods ) applied at three periods of growth (during first 12 weeks after planting, 13-24 weeks after planting, 1-24 weeks after planting) along with a rainfed crop for comparison. Whole corm size of 500 g each of the variety 'Gajendra' was uniformly used as the planting material. Pooled analysis of the data showed superiority of drip irrigation over flood irrigation. Among the treatments, drip irrigation during 13-24 weeks after planting resulted in the maximum corm yield (40.59 t/ha), however, this was on par with drip or flood irrigation given during the entire period of 1-24 weeks. Though the cost of cultivation was more under drip irrigation, it resulted in more gross and net income and B:C ratio. Maximum productivity per day and profitability/ ha/day were recorded when drip irrigation was provided during 13-24 weeks after planting corms. Relative economic efficiency was worked out to be 119 to 275 % higher under drip irrigation and 109 to 168 % higher under flood irrigation over rainfed cultivation. Productivity per mm of water used was more under drip , and the values were less under flood irrigation compared to rainfed situations. Drip irrigation resulted in 30 % increase in corm yield as well as 20% saving in irrigation water compared to flood irrigation.