Root aeration improves yield and water use efficiency of tomato in heavy clay and saline soils

Surya P Bhattarai,Lance Pendergast,David J Midmore

doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2006.02.011

Surya P Bhattarai, Lance Pendergast + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2006.02.011

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Journal: Scientia Horticulturae	Publication Date: Mar 29, 2006
Citations: 112	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Central Queensland University

Abstract

Water logging and salinity of the soil alter both the physical and biological environment of plant roots. In two experiments, we investigated the effects of imposed aeration on yield and the physiological response of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum L.) variety Improved Apollo growing under protected conditions over a range of salinities (the salinity experiment), and under constant field capacity (FC) or drier soil conditions (the moisture experiment). Subsurface irrigation with aerated water (12% air in water) stimulated above-ground growth, and enhanced the reproductive performance through earliness for flowering and fruiting compared with the control. Fruit yield of tomato with aeration in the moisture experiment was increased by 21% compared with the control (4.2 kg versus 3.7 kg per plant), and the effect of aeration on fruit yield was greater in FC than in the drier treatment. Fruit yield was increased by 38% in saline soil due to aeration compared with the non-aerated control. Increasing salinity from 2 to 8.8 dS m −1, and 10 dS m −1 reduced fruit yield by 18% and 62%, respectively, but 4 dS m −1 did not suppress yield. Aeration in both the experiments increased plant water use and water use efficiency (WUE), expressed as weight per unit of applied water. Biomass WUE was greater by 16% and 32% in the moisture and salinity experiments, respectively. The increased yield with aeration was also accompanied by an increased harvest index (HI) defined as the proportion of dry fruit biomass to total dry biomass, greater mean fruit weight, high fruit DM, and increase in leaf chlorophyll content and shoot: root ratio, and a reduced water stress index (computed from the difference between air and leaf temperature). The benefit gained from aerating irrigation water was not only observed under conditions where air-filled porosity may be low (e.g., in poorly structure sodic soils, or at field capacity in clay soils), but also in drier soils.

Highlights

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) can be grown in a wide range of soil types (Kinet and Peet, 1997)
Fruit yield of tomato with aeration in the moisture experiment was increased by 21 percent compared with the control (4.2 vs. 3.7 kg per plant), and the effect of aeration on fruit yield was greater in field capacity (FC) than in the drier treatment
Fruit yield was increased by 38 percent in saline soil due to aeration compared with the non-aerated control

Summary

Introduction

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) can be grown in a wide range of soil types (Kinet and Peet, 1997). In poorly drained soils, flood irrigation and wet weather cause water to replace air in the soil reducing the availability and mobility of oxygen that remains trapped in soil pores (Meek et al, 1983). The roots of most crop species need a good supply of oxygen in order to satisfy the water and nutrient needs of the shoots (Meek et al, 1983). One of the first symptoms of excessive soil wetness is drought stress in the leaves. If these conditions are prolonged for more than a few days, further serious damage can be effected via nutrient deficiency, build-up of metabolic poisons and increased incidence of root diseases (Vartapetian and Jackson, 1997)

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Conclusion