Effect of different irrigation regimes on the production and root system of tomatoes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab1980.v15.16625Keywords:
irrigation regimes, tomato, root system, oxisolAbstract
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.