Scheduling Regulated Deficit Irrigation with Leaf Water Potential of Cherry Tomato in Greenhouse and its Effect on Fruit Quality

Leontina Lipan,Mireia Corell,María José Martín-Palomo,Francisca Hernández,Alfonso Moriana,Noemí Medina Zurita,Alejandro Galindo,Ángel A. Carbonell-Barrachina,Hanán Issa-Issa,Luis Andreu

doi:10.3390/agriculture11070669

Abstract

The tomato cultivated surface is one of the most important surfaces in the world. This crop needs a sufficient and continuous supply of water during vegetative growth. Therefore, production may be at risk in warm and water-scarce areas. Therefore, the implementation of irrigation alternatives such as regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is of great importance to reduce the use of water and improve the production of the quality of tomatoes. The objective of this work was to evaluate the deficit irrigation scheduling using plant water status as a tool in deficit irrigation. Experimental design was a randomized design with four replications per treatment. Two irrigation treatments were applied: Control (125% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc)) and Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI). This latter treatment considered different threshold values of midday leaf water depending on crop phenological stage. No differences were observed in yield, with RDI treatment being more efficient in the use of irrigation water than the control. Besides, RDI tomatoes presented, in general, greater weight, size, Total soluble solids (TSS), sugars, antioxidant activity, lycopene, β-Carotene, and redder color with more intense tomatoes flavor. Finally, it might be said that RDI strategy helped to reduce 53% of irrigation water and to improve the nutritional, functional, and sensory quality of tomatoes.

Highlights

Horticulture is affected by climatic changes such as heatwaves, droughts, hailstorms, heavy rains, etc
No differences were observed in yield, with Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) treatment being more efficient in the use of irrigation water than the control
Tomatoes conditions and fruits were monitored for 6 weeks

Summary

Introduction

Horticulture is affected by climatic changes such as heatwaves, droughts, hailstorms, heavy rains, etc. Semi-arid and Mediterranean climates are affected by the decrease in the availability of water for irrigation due to the deep intensity of droughts [1]. In these semi-arid areas, they are generally characterized by increased evapotranspiration, higher soil salinity, and limited water availability, which is why an increase in the efficiency of water use is necessary [2]. Water is becoming the main limitation for agricultural recreation in many regions worldwide, in arid and semi-arid areas. The world population is increasing more and more This implies that there is an increase in food consumption, which, produces a greater consumption of water in agriculture. Wu et al argue that there is an urgent need to efficiently use water in agriculture [3]

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