Plastic Mulch and Drip Irrigation for Improving Water Productivity in Horticultural Crops under Semi-Arid Conditions

Water scarcity and high evaporative demand constrain horticultural production in semi-arid environments. Plastic mulching and drip irrigation are complementary water-management practices that can improve soil-moisture conservation, irrigation efficiency and crop productivity. Drip irrigation delivers water near the crop root zone, while plastic mulch limits direct evaporation from the soil surface and modifies the soil thermal environment. Published studies in strawberry, tomato, brinjal and other horticultural crops have reported improvements in yield and water-use efficiency under integrated mulch and drip irrigation systems. However, the magnitude of these benefits depends on crop species, mulch properties, irrigation scheduling, soil characteristics and local climatic conditions. This communication examines the potential of integrating plastic mulching with drip irrigation for water-efficient horticultural production under semi-arid conditions. It also highlights the importance of quantifying irrigation water applied, marketable yield, irrigation water productivity and economic returns when evaluating these practices. Although technology offers considerable potential for improving water productivity, appropriate plastic waste collection, recycling and assessment of long-term soil impacts are necessary for sustainable adoption. Site-specific evaluation is therefore essential before recommending the technology across diverse horticultural production systems.