Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the summer rice fallows at the Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy, Kerala, during 1996 to study the effect of moisture conservation techniques and levels of irrigation on the soil moisture retention and yield of oriental pickling melon. The study revealed that incorporation of coir pith, saw dust and paddy waste increased the soil moisture content over control 10.9, 1.6 and 7.1 per cent and field WUE by 9.9, 5.3 and 19.9 per cent respectively. Consumptive use was also increased by the moisture conservation techniques. Levels of irrigation showed a negative relation with WUE and positive relation with consumptive use. The peak consumptive use and crop coefficient coincided with the fullest development of canopy and flowering stage of the crop. The crop depleted about 50 per cent of soil water from the top 15 cm layer. The crop needed frequent irrigations as dictated by IW/CPE ratio 1.2 for maximum yield. Incorporation of moisture conservation materials substantially, increased the yield of cucumber. The increase in the yield by the addition of paddy waste, coir pith and sawdust over control was 27, 17 and 10 per cent respectively. Incorporation of moisture conservation materials can save five number of irrigations required by the crop.

Keywords: Moisture conservation techniques, IW/CPE ratio, consumptive use, water use efficiency, yield