This study reports the effect of surface and subsurface drip irrigation with municipal wastewater and groundwater on growth and yield of cauliflower. Eight treatments were evaluated: surface drip (T1), subsurface drip (non-pressure compensating) (T2), bioline subsurface drip (T3) and bioline (pressure-compensating) surface drip (T4) using groundwater, and the same drip systems using primarily treated municipal wastewater (i.e. T5–T8). Results showed maximum leaf area index and root length density (5.64 and 5.25 cm/cm³ respectively) of cauliflower in subsurface drip system having pressure-compensating lateral applying wastewater and minimum (4.48 and 4.05 cm/cm³ respectively) in surface drip system having inline lateral applying groundwater. The highest curd yield (79.67 tonne/ha) was found with subsurface pressure-compensating drip with wastewater application, whereas lowest (59.01 tonne/ha) was recorded in case of inline surface drip with groundwater. The cauliflower curd yield increased by 7.58% and 8.49% under surface and subsurface pressure-compensating drip laterals with wastewater application, with a saving of 30.1% nitrogen, 14.14% phosphorus and 33.7% potassium, compared to groundwater-irrigated treatments.