Home⇛Isabela State University Linker The Journal of Emerging Research in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry⇛vol. 6 no. 1 (2026)

Evaporation-Based Irrigation Strategy for Tomato Production Using a SolarPowered Drip Irrigation System

Glenn A. Batoon | Catherine A. Bartolome | Pinky Melanie DC. Panlasigui | Elmer A. Rosete

Discipline: Agriculture

 

Abstract:

This study evaluated the effects of evaporationbased irrigation scheduling on tomato growth, yield, water productivity, and economic performance using a solar-powered drip irrigation system at the Isabela State University Research Experimental Area, Echague, Isabela. Four irrigation regimes based on Class A pan evaporation were tested: 75% (T1), 100% (T2), 125% (T3), and 150% (T4), arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Results showed that irrigation level significantly affected plant height, number of leaves, fruit diameter, percent effective flowers, and yield (p < 0.05). The highest projected yield was obtained under T4 (1,142.22 kg per 1,000 m²), although it was statistically comparable to T3 (1,119.23 kg per 1,000 m²). Treatment 3 achieved the highest water productivity at 6.87 kg m?³, followed by T2 (6.43 kg m?³), T1 (6.39 kg m?³), and T4 (6.29 kg m?³). Economic analysis indicated that the solar-powered drip irrigation system was financially viable, with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.76, a return on investment of 42.03%, and a payback period of 2.38 years. The findings suggest that irrigation scheduling based on 125% of Class A pan evaporation provides an effective balance between yield and water-use efficiency and can serve as a practical climate-resilient irrigation strategy for tomato production in water-limited environments.



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