Performance Evaluation Of Drip Irrigation System and Water Use Efficiency of Rock Melon (Cucumis melo L.) at Netted Rain Shelter House

Drip irrigation system distributes water to the plant root zone by drippers. This study emphasizes to evaluate water application uniformity during the rock melon cultivation and
without crop cultivation of drip irrigation system by determine the discharge and pressure of the drip irrigation system. The result indicated operating pressure of drip irrigation system tested in the ranged between 0.8 psi and 3.0 psi with discharge rate around 0.14 Lmin-1 and 0.25 Lmin-1. Water application uniformity between laterals were in the range 66.06% and 89.72%. Water use efficiency (WUE) of rock melon was found to be 7.93294 kg/m3 indicated the low amount of water applied throughout the growing season. In general, if high yield is obtained with minimum use of irrigation water, the value of WUE obtained will be high. The result also revealed the controlling of valve does not give significantly difference of pressure and discharge at the head, middle and tail of selected drippers. Evaluation of irrigation performance can help the farmer in managing the farm as drip irrigation is more effective and rational use of limited supplies of water.