Effects of Deficit Drip Irrigation and Rice Straw Mulch on Flowering, Fruiting and Yield of 

Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentus L.) Varieties

4. Department of Agriculture Mechanization and Irrigation Technology, University for Development Studies, Ghana

Abstract: Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) is one of the most important vegetables in the world and its demand has increased making factors affecting its production very key for evaluation. The yields of tomato in Ghana are generally low, as such being supplemented by imports from neighbouring countries. This study investigated the effects of deficit drip irrigation and mulch on flowering, flower abortion, fruiting and yield of two tomato varieties. The experiment was carried out at Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) experimental field at Nyankpala, Tamale in Ghana from November 2020 to March 2021, laid out in a split-split plot design. The output of the CROPWAT model indicated highest seasonal water requirement of tomato was 564 mm at ET100 whilst the lowest of 282 mm at ET50. Soil analysis revealed that the soil textural class was sandy loam. The top-soil had a field capacity of 18.2%, whilst the subsurface soil was 18%. Significant (p < 0.05) differences in flower count, flower abortion, fruiting and total fruit yield as influenced by irrigation regime and mulch were observed. Highest total fruit yield of 13.46 t/ha was obtained with combined use of Mongal F1 and of ET100, whilst the lowest of 2.04 t/ha was recorded from Pectomech tomato and ET50.