Abstract

Water scarcity is a significant challenge facing Ethiopia’s irrigated agriculture, prompting the need for innovative on-farm irrigation management strategies to ensure the sustainable utilization of limited water resources. In 2021, a study was conducted at the Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center (FNRRTC) to assess the yield and water productivity (WP) of tomato crops under water stress conditions. The experiment involved testing three deficit irrigation levels (100%ETc, 75%ETc, and 50%ETc) based on ETc, along with three mulch types: No Mulch (NM), White Plastic Mulch (WPM), and Rice Straw Mulch (RSM) using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Rice Straw Mulch was applied at a rate of 6t/ha, while White Plastic Mulch had a thickness of 25 microns. Results showed that the yield of tomatoes and WP were significantly influenced by deficit irrigation and mulch types at a 0.05% significance level. Specifically, tomatoes under 75%ETc had higher marketable yields compared to 100%ETc and 50%ETc; while WP was highest at 50%ETc. RSM demonstrated superior performance, enhancing both yield and WP when compared to No Mulch and WPM. Overall, utilizing RSM with 75%ETc proved to be an effective strategy for conserving water while optimizing tomato yields in Ethiopia.