Productivity and Profitability of Elephant Foot Yam under Drip and Flood Irrigation

Abstract

Productivity and profitability of elephant foot yam under drip and flood irrigation was worked out, based on the data collected from field experiments conducted at ICAR-CTCRI, Thiruvananthapuram, during two years, 2013-14 and 2014-15. The experiment consisted of two methods of irrigation (Drip and Flood irrigation methods ) applied at three periods of growth (first 12 weeks after planting (WAP), 13-24 WAP, 1-24 WAP) along with a rainfed crop for comparison. Whole corm size of 500 g each of the variety ‘Gajendra’ was uniformly used as the planting material. Pooled analysis of the data showed superiority of drip irrigation over flood irrigation. Among the six treatments, drip irrigation during 13-24 WAP resulted in the maximum corm yield (40.59 tha-1). However, corm yield was on par with drip or flood irrigation given during the period of 1-24 weeks. Even though the cost of cultivation was more under drip irrigation, it resulted in more gross (` 12,17,700) and net income (` 8,38,900) and B:C ratio (3.21). Maximum productivity per day and profitability per hectare per day were recorded when drip irrigation was provided during 13-24 WAP corms. Relative economic efficiency was 119 to 275% higher under drip irrigation and 109 to 168% higher under flood irrigation relative to rainfed cultivation. Productivity per mm of water consumption was more under drip irrigation, and the values were less under flood irrigation compared to rainfed conditions.