Effect of dripline depth on the agronomic parameter of eggplant Solanum melongena L. (Solanaceae)

Despite numerous researches investigated on subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), local information about the response of eggplant growth and water dynamics on SDI still very limited in Tunisia. Results showed that lower values of soil water contents were obtained under traditional drip irrigation (DI) treatment, as a consequence of higher evaporative demand. Leaf area, the number of fruits per plant, as well as the crop yield obtained on SDI treatment, resulted significantly higher (P = 0.05) than the corresponding measured on DI treatment. The better performance associated to SDI compared to DI, was due to the minor evaporation losses from the soil surface and consequently higher irrigation water use efficiency. When the drip laterals were buried, the wet bulbs in the soil induced the concentration of roots around the points where water is applied. Moreover, the occurrence of capillary rise could contribute to a redistribution of water stock around zones of active roots.