Abstract
Soil hydraulic principles suggest that post-infiltration hypoxic conditions would be induced in the plant root-zone for drip-irrigated tomato production in small pots filled with natural soil. No previous study specifically examined the response of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) at different growth stages to low soil aeration under these conditions. A 2 × 6 factorial experiment was conducted to quantify effects of no post-infiltration soil aeration versus aeration during 5 different periods (namely 27–33, 34–57, 58–85, 86–99, and 27–99 days after sowing), on growth and fruit quality of potted single tomato plants that were sub-surface trickle-irrigated every 2 days at 2 levels. Soil was aerated by injecting 2.5 liters of air into each pot through the drip tubing immediately after irrigation. Results showed that post-infiltration aeration, especially during the fruit setting (34–57 DAS) and enlargement (58–85 DAS) growth stages, can positively influence the yield, root dry weight and activity, and the nutritional (soluble solids and vitamin C content), taste (titratable acidity), and market quality (shape and firmness) of the tomato fruits. Interactions between irrigation level and post-infiltration aeration on some of these fruit quality parameters indicated a need for further study on the dynamic interplay of air and water in the root zone of the plants under the conditions of this experiment.
Highlights
It is well known that mesophytic plant roots access soil O2 by diffusive mass transfer
For the low irrigation treatment, the mean yield (n = 3) of the non-aerated plants was 616 g per plant compared to the mean yield for the of 688 g per plant for the pots that were aerated for the entire period of 27–99 days after sowing
The experimental findings in this study suggest that such two-way biochemical root/shoot interactions may be involved. These results show that post-infiltration aeration especially during the fruit setting and enlargement growth stage can positively influence the nutritional, taste, and market quality of tomato fruits produced in potted culture with sub-surface drip irrigation
Summary
It is well known that mesophytic plant roots access soil O2 (in air or dissolved) by diffusive mass transfer. Increasing water saturation implies decreasing air saturation and vice-versa. In this context, formulating irrigation timing, level, and frequency for potted plants needs to take into account meeting crop water and nutrient requirements as well as preventing oxygen-deficient conditions in the root environment. These choices would depend on many factors such as the irrigation method, irrigation water quality, soil type, and crop species
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