Variation of in-situ soil moisture under different irrigation regimes: An Experience under potato production in Meghalaya

Abstract

Under limited availability of water, maximization of water productivity can be possibly achieved with deficit irrigation regimes. A field trial was taken with potatoes as the test crop during the winter season of 2022-23 to study the variation of soil moisture under different irrigation scenarios and crop performance under mid hills of Meghalaya. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with four different levels of irrigation regimes, viz., 45% (M1), 60% (M2), 75% (M3) and 90% (M4) as main plot treatment and three potato varieties, viz., Kufri Jyoti (V1), Kufri Megha (V2) and Kufri Giriraj (V3) under sub plot treatment and replicated thrice. The maximum variation recorded was 18.46, 21.73, 24.73 and 27%, under M1, M2, M3, and M4, respectively. Similarly, the total range of water used varied between 575.3 to 124.8 mm. The highest value of water productivity (75.34 kg ha-1 mm-1) was recorded under M4 irrigation regime. Similarly highest water productivity was recorded for V1 (54.50 kg ha-1 mm-1), over V2 and V3, but was statistically at par with V2 (50.83 kg ha-1 mm-1).