Effect of different irrigation regimes on the production and root system of tomatoes

Abstract

This work was conducted to study the yield and root system distribution to tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) when submitted to five irrigation regimes. A randomized complete block with five treatments and five replicates was used. The treatments consisted to irrigate when soil water was depleted to -0.3; -1; -2; -3 and -5 bars matric potential levels, Production was separated into fruits with and without blossom-end rot. For commercial fruits significative difference was found between the treatments at 5% level. Yields amounted to 97, 85, 73 and 68%, in comparison to potential level of 74.8 t/ha, for the -1. -2, -3 and -5 bars irrigation treatments, respectively. It was concluded that irrigation of the variety Rossol VFN can be managed between -0.3 and -2 bars of soil matric potential, with best possibilities for lower irrigation frequency, without significantly affecting yield. It was found that 85% of the root system to tomato was concentrated in the 0 - 35 cm layer of the oxisol.