Summary:

The aim of the study is to analyze the productivity and efficiency of two types irrigation systems. First one, with using traditional hose, and second one, with using drip line system. The study was conducted in specialized vegetable farm in Karpicko near Wolsztyn, in years between 2009 to 2011, in two tunnels with an area of 180 m2 either. Cultivation areas of tomatoes, however, took up respectively 87 m2. In each of tunnels 400 tomatoes' seedlings (Nita® Nickerson - Zwann variety) were planted. The volume of water used for irrigation was checked by two independent water meters, whereas the crop took place once a week. The scope and labour intensity of treatment, protective attendance, and associated works with fertilization based on the actual number of man-hours were recorded. The efficiency of water production was much higher in the drip line system; in order to obtain one kilogram of tomatoes the system needed 33 liters of water, whereas the traditional system almost 58 liters. It means that production efficiency of drip irrigation was about 75% higher than using the traditional irrigation system.