Faculty of Engineering and Technology

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Browsing Faculty of Engineering and Technology by Author "ABESIGA, Dennis"

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    EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF DEFICIT IRRIGATION LEVELS UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION WITH MULCHING ON TOMATO YIELD AND WATER PRODUCTIVITY.
    (BUSITEMA UNIVERSITY, 2026) ABESIGA, Dennis
    Tomato production in Busia District, eastern Uganda, is increasingly constrained by seasonal water scarcity and inefficient irrigation practices. This study evaluated the effects of three deficit irrigation levels 100% (I₁), 75% (I₂), and 50% (I₃) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) combined with two mulching treatments (mulched and non-mulched) on tomato (Money Maker) growth, yield, soil moisture dynamics, and water productivity under drip irrigation. The experiment was conducted at Busitema University Research Field, Busia District, during the dry season from December 2025 to March 2026, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with a 3×2 factorial arrangement replicated three times. Results showed that both irrigation level and mulching had highly significant effects (P<0.001) on all measured parameters. The highest marketable yield of 44.17 t/ha was recorded under I₁+Mulch (full irrigation with mulching), while the lowest yield of 20.39 t/ha was recorded under I₃+No Mulch. Mulching provided a mean yield advantage of 4.41 t/ha (+14.2%) across all irrigation levels. Critically, the I₂+Mulch treatment (75% ETc with mulching) achieved a yield of 39.14 t/ha statistically equivalent to full irrigation without mulch (39.61 t/ha) while using 25% less irrigation water. Soil moisture content was maintained above the permanent wilting point (0.10 g/g) in all treatments throughout the season, validating the 50% management allowable deficit (MAD) scheduling approach. The I₂+Mulch treatment recorded the highest irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) of 17.70 kg/m³, surpassing the full irrigation treatment (16.26 kg/m³), and reduced seasonal irrigation demand by 504 m³/ha compared to full irrigation. The I₂+Mulch treatment was identified as the optimal deficit irrigation strategy, offering the best balance between yield, water productivity, and irrigation efficiency for smallholder tomato production under drip irrigation in Busia District. These findings provide practical, evidence-based guidelines for farmers, extension workers, and policymakers on sustainable irrigation water management for tomato production in sub-humid eastern Uganda.