Irrigation scheduling in vegetables for yield improvement and crop diversification

Two field experiments evaluated the amount and frequency of irrigation on bottle gourd and lady's finger at IAAS, Rampur, Chitwan during summer of 1995. Split-split-plot design with two levels of mulch in bottle gourd, and three levels of nitrogen in lady's finger were used as main plot factors. Sub-plot (three frequency levels, FIW) and sub-sub plot (amount of water, AIW) were common factors in both experiments. AIW was determined by amount of water applied to cumulative pan evaporation less the rainfall (IWlEpan) ratio of 1,0.75 and 0.5. While the frequency and amount of irrigation had significant interaction effect on the number of nodes of bottle gourd at 0.05% probability level, and significant single effect of mulching on number of primary braches, none of the other treatments could produce statistically significant difference on yield and other yield attributing characteristics of this crop. Although non­ significant, the results also indicated that frequent application of higher amount of water could result in reduced water productivity and yield loss in this crop. In the case of lady's finger, however, low level of nitrogen application with low but daily watering had highly significant effect on crop yield. Interaction effect of all factors was also significant on fruit yield that indicated the need to consider the possible increase in return to farmer even by smaller irrigation.