Abstract

A field study with banana [Musa paradisiaca (L.) var. Dwarf Cavendish] was conducted to understand the temporal variations of hydraulic performance under the surface drip irrigation system in Vertisols at Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal. The hydraulic performance of drip system was monitored by observing the individual plant-wise emitter discharge. The Christiansen's Coefficient of Uniformity (CCU), Wilcox-Swailes Coefficient of Uniformity (WSCU), Statistical Coefficient of Uniformity (SCU), Low Quarter Distribution Uniformity (SDUlq) and Coefficient for Emitter Flow Variation (CEFV) for the rate of water application were evaluated. The average value of CCU remained close to 0.93 and 0.84, respectively, on revealing a reduced uniformity of water application on plants over two years of observations. Similarly, the SCU was observed 0.87 and 0.72 respectively. The values of SDUlq were found reduced from 0.79 to 0.55 in a year's time between April 2013 and April 2014, respectively. The coefficients of emitter flow variation were worked out as 92.8, 11.5 and 83.9, 78.5 for the year April 2013 and April 2014, respectively. Whereas for the month of April 2013 average discharge rates were 6.41, 7.36, 7.82, 8.25 and 10.92 lph; the average plant height and average girth at the collar were 48.6, 57.1, 64.8, 67.3, 45.2 and 30.7, 33.0, 35.9, 38.4, and 27.2 respectively. Although for the month of April 2014 the average discharge rates were 4.7, 7.2, 7.7, 8.2 and 10.2 lph; the average plant height and average girth at the collar were 240.3, 215.3, 221.3, 223.0, 232.8 and 46.1, 36.1, 43.6, 44.4, 45.0, respectively. Different levels of emitter discharge as experienced by the banana plant were grouped into the five emitter discharge groups viz., less than 7, 7–7.5, 7.5–8.0, 8.0–8.5 and more than 8.5 lph. The plant growth parameters were significantly different at different discharge levels. The plant height and plant girth decreased with decreasing the discharge. A positive trend was observed in plant growth parameters and the application of emitter discharge for the period from January 2013 to October 2013 after which the trend was nearly plateau/constant for the later period of time from January 2014 to April 2014.