Combining mulching and drip irrigation for water conservation in tomato cropsTankeuoo Kopa, Imerina (Avtor) Ammari, Abdelhadi (Avtor) Meddi, Mohamed (Avtor) water scarcitysoil protectionsustainabilitywater application efficiency (EA)irrigationmulchMitidja plainWater scarcity in agriculture necessitates inno-vative practices for sustainable water management. This study evaluated the effects of organic mulching, specifically a mixture (composed of wood chips, sawdust, and wheat straw in equal proportions) and recycled crop waste (RCW), combined with drip irrigation, on water conservation in tomato crops cultivated in the Mitidja Plain, Algeria. Field experiments were conducted from July to October 2023, comparing mulched and non-mulched plots under surface and subsurface drip irrigation (SSDI). Results showed that the mixture mulch with SSDI saved 29.6 % of water, while RCW saved 22.2 %, compared to surface irrigation. Mulching regulated soil moisture, tempera-ture, and electrical conductivity, though water application efficiency slightly decreased (96.1 % for mixture, 96.4 % for RCW vs. 97.1 % for control). However, the slight soil acidification observed in mulched plots (pH 6.20–6.52) warrants attention, as it may influence nutrient availability over time. Despite this, soil organic matter (OM) remained stable (1.09 %–1.70 %), confirming that mulching enhances soil fertility without compromising its structure. These findings highlight the potential of combining organic mulching with drip irrigation for sustain-able water management in tomato cultivation, offering practical insights for farmers in arid regions.20252025-07-16 15:16:14Članek v reviji170807UDK: 631ISSN pri članku: 1854-1941DOI: 10.14720/aas.2025.121.2.22121COBISS_ID: 242796291sl