The effects of deficit irrigation methods on the yield and quality of tomato

Abstract

Tomato is a crop of worldwide economic importance, and the factors controlling its fruit growth and quality attracted considerable research interest. The aim of this paper was to investigate the effects of deficit irrigation methods (partial root-zone drying (PRD) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI)) on the yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and quality of tomato fruit and to compare these results with the results obtained of ­fully irrigated (Fl) plants. Under PRD and RDI tomato plants were irrigated with 60% of the water that was applied to Fl. At the end of the vegetation season, analyses of total yield, fruit quality and WUE were carried out. WUE was calculated on the basis of fruit dry weight and the amounts of water used by the crop. Tomato quality was characterized on the basis of fruit fresh weight by measuring soluble solids, titrable acidity and antioxidant activity. Results showed that with both deficit irrigation methods is possible to increase WUE without ­significant reduction of tomato yield or yield quality. Comparison between deficit irrigation methods showed: an increase in antioxidative activity in tomato fruits under PRD and thus indicated that for tomato PRD meth­od could be more beneficial irrigation method than RDI.