Efficiency Of Tomato Research Articles

Combining magnetized water with biodegradable film mulching reshapes soil water-salt distribution and affects processing tomatoes' yield in the arid drip-irrigated field of Northwest China

In arid areas, biodegradable film has recently had the potential to replace polyethylene (PE) film to address plastic pollution. However, the positive effect of biodegradable film on soil moisture and salt control is weaker than that of PE film. Magnetized irrigation water technology is expected to compensate for this limitation. This study comprised a field experiment in 20212023 to study how two types of biodegradable film (M1, black; M2, transparent) and six magnetization intensity on irrigation water (T0, 0 Gs; T1, 1000 Gs; T2, 2000 Gs; T3, 3000 Gs; T4, 4000 Gs; T5, 5000 Gs) affect the degradation rate of biodegradable film, soil watersalt distribution, growth, and quality of processing tomatoes. The traditional PE film mulching and non-magnetized irrigation were used as the control group (MPET0). The results demonstrated that magnetized water irrigation slowed down the degradation rate of biodegradable film. In addition, the magnetized irrigation water can redistributed the soil water-salt patterns under the biodegradable film, improving the soil water content and salt leaching efficiency, with better results in M1 than in M2. Moreover, magnetized water irrigation promoted the growth of tomato leaf area under the biodegradable film, enhancing photochemical efficiency and potential activity of PSII, thereby improving fruit yield, quality, and water use efficiency of tomato. Principal component analysis showed that the comprehensive score of M1T3 treatment was the highest throughout the three years. Furthermore, M1T3 treatment has the highest processing tomato economic benefits during 2021–2023 (24634986 CNY hm2 more than MPET0). Therefore, the use of 3000 Gs magnetized irrigation water combined with black biodegradable film is conducive to improving soil water and salt conditions, reducing residual film pollution, and improving the yield and quality of processing tomatoes, thus ensuring the sustainable development of oasis agriculture.

Effect of Phenological Basis Deficit Irrigation on Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.)

The availability of water is a major concern in regions with limited water resources. In such regions, the focus of irrigation management shifted from producing per unit area to producing per unit of water consumed, water productivity. An experiment was carried out, for two consecutive years( 2020 and 2021) at the research farm of Shire-Maitsebri Agricultural Research Center, Tselemty district, Tigray, Ethiopia to exmine the response of tomato to deficit irrigation at various growth stages. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Combination of three irrigation regimes (100%, 50%, and 25% of full irrigation requirement) and four FAO-defined tomato growth stages (initial, developmental, mid, and late seasons) were considered to form a total of nine treatments. Data on agronomy and irrigation water were collected and analyzed statistically. The results revealed that reducing irrigation amount up to 75% during the development growth stage significantly decreased marketable yield by 66.5%. However, the highest water use efficiency (9.2 kg/m3) was achieved by reducing irrigation amount by 75% during the end-growth stage of tomatoes. Treatments with the lowest water use efficiency (3.5 kg/m3) were those receiving 75% less irrigation amount than the full requirement during the development growth stage. Reducing irrigation to less than 75% of the full requirement during tomato development stages can greatly impact marketable yield and water use efficiency. Therefore, the tomato crop is highly susceptible to water stress when receiving more than 50% of the full irrigation requirement during its developmental growth stage.

Effects of nitrogen reduction on the agronomic characteristics, quality, and water and fertilizer use efficiency of tomato (lycopersicon esculintum mill.) between drip fertigation and negative-pressure fertigation

Effects of nitrogen reduction on the agronomic characteristics, quality, and water and fertilizer use efficiency of tomato (lycopersicon esculintum mill.) between drip fertigation and negative-pressure fertigation

Effects of microbial fertilizer and irrigation amount on growth, physiology and water use efficiency of tomato in greenhouse

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of microbial fertilizer and irrigation regime on growth, physiology, water use efficiency (WUE) of tomato plants and soil nutrients. Microbial fertilizers: bacillus subtilis fertilizer (B.s.), bacillus polymyxa fertilizer (B.p.) and combined bacillus species (B.c.) were used as microbial fertilizers in the study, and plants treated without bacillus fertilizer were taken as control (CK). Three irrigation levels were set, i.e., full irrigation (I1) which plants were irrigated to 95 % field capacity (θf), and two deficit irrigations which were 2/3 I1 (I2) and 1/3 I1 (I3), respectively. The result showed that microbial fertilizers enhanced leaf photosynthesis rate (An), transpiration rate (Tr), relative chlorophyll content (CHL), nitrogen index balance (NBI) and leaf water potential (Ψl) in addition to increased plant root length, root surface area, root volume; and promoted plant water consumption, dry matter (DM) and plant water use efficiency (WUE). The content of nitrogen in leaf ([N]leaf), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), the mineral nitrogen and soil microbial nitrogen content (MBN) were significantly improved by microbial fertilizer. Compared to CK, B.s., B.p. and B.c. increased An by 17.96 %, 11.77 % and 6.83 %, respectively. B.s. fertilizer significantly increased MBN and root length by 21.99 % and 55.08 % than CK. Deficit irrigations decreased An, Tr, stomatal conductance (gs), and improved intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) and instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEinst). Deficit irrigation depressed leaf area, Ψl, CHL, NBI, root length, root surface area and root volume, hereby declined plant water consumption, and optimized plant WUE. In this study, microbial fertilizers mitigated negative effects of deficit irrigation on photosynthesis and DM and improved WUE. Compare to CK and other microbial fertilizers, B.s fertilizer treated plants possessed enhanced plant water status, higher leaf gas exchange rates, more developed root system, higher plant nitrogen accumulation and NUE. Hereby, the B.s. fertilizer is an optimal strategy to mitigate water stress in tomato plants and promoted plants growth.

The Impact of Salinity and Nutrient Regimes on the Agro-Morphological Traits and Water Use Efficiency of Tomato under Hydroponic Conditions

The effects of saline water on three greenhouse tomato cultivars (Feisty-Red, Ghandowra-F1, and Valouro-RZ) under three salinity concentrations (S1, ~2.5 dS m−1; S2, ~6.0 dS m−1; and ~9.0 dS m−1) and four nutrient regimes (N1–N4) were studied by evaluating the vegetative growth, chlorophyll content, leaf area, water use efficiency (WUE), and fruit yield of the cultivars. Vegetative growth parameters, such as plant height, leaf area, and stem diameter, were negatively correlated with increased levels of salinity. Also, the lowest WUE was noted for the high-salinity (~9.0 dS m−1) treatments. The Valouro-RZ cultivar performed better in terms of vegetative growth parameters when compared to both the Ghandowra-F1 and Feisty-Red cultivars. The plants grafted onto Maxifort rootstock showed more tolerance to salinity stress, with significant differences in plant growth, tomato yield, and WUE when compared with the non-grafted plants. The use of a modified nutrient solution (N2) in combination with moderately saline water (S2, ~6.0 dS m−1) resulted in a high mean yield (30.7 kg m−2), with a reduction of about ~1.6% compared with the mean yield of the control (i.e., the combination of S1 and N1), which was estimated to be about 31.2 kg m−2. High salinity significantly affected the mean WUE, which was the highest at 31.3 kg m−3 for the control plants (low salinity—S1), followed by the moderate-salinity (S2) plants at 30.4 kg m−3, and the lowest mean WUE was recorded for the high-salinity (S3) plants at 17.7 kg m−3. These results indicate that a combination of grafting onto rootstocks and using an appropriate nutrient recipe (i.e., N2 in this study) can mitigate the negative effects of salt stress on tomato plants grown under hydroponic conditions.

Effects of Oxygenated Irrigation on Root Morphology, Fruit Yield, and Water–Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Effects of Oxygenated Irrigation on Root Morphology, Fruit Yield, and Water–Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Influence of nitrogen sources and rates on yield and nitrogen use efficiency of tomato

A study was carried out with tomato at the research field of Regional Agricultural Research Station of BARI, Cumilla during two consecutive years 2019-20 and 2020-21. The objective was to evaluate the yield response and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of tomato (variety BARI Tomato-15) and to suggest the source and the rate of N fertilizer recommendation for tomato. The experiment was laid out in a RCBD design with three N sources (PU, NCU and DAP) and two N rates (100% and 125% of recommendation as per FRG-2018) replicated three times. In the first year, prilled urea (PU), neem coated urea (NCU) and DAP were used but in the second year DAP was replaced by urea super granule (USG). The recommended dose of N for tomato was 120 kg ha-1. Results revealed that between two rates of N application the yield was the maximum (77.4 t ha-1 and 60.3 t ha-1 in two years, respectively with 125% of RD. The highest agronomic use efficiency of nitrogen (NAUE) was obtained from 100% RD of N as DAP (150.0 kg kg-1) and 125% RD of N as NCU (133.3 kg kg-1). The lowest N use efficiency was observed in 100% PU (84.2 kg kg-1) and 100% NCU (40.8 kg kg-1) treated plots. Due to optimal plant growth, the neem-coated urea treatment yielded little higher than PU treatment. Bangladesh J. Agri. 2023, 48(1): 92-100

Effect of foliar-applied potassium silicate on growth, yield, fruit quality and antioxidant activity of tomato plants grown under deficit irrigation

When water is scarce, it is highly important to provide plants with water at critical stages to improve yield with high water use efficiency (WUE). Transpiration reduction is an effective and necessary procedure for conserving irrigation water while ensuring plant survival and protecting foliage from drought damage, and thus increasing water productivity. Foliar application of growth stimulators is one of the most important ways for lowering transpiration rates and reducing the negative effects of drought stress. The effects of foliar potassium silicate application as a growth stimulator, as well as water-sprayed plants, on growth, some physiological parameters, yield components, and water use efficiency of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivar "Elisa" grown during summer season under three irrigation levels (100, 75 or 50% ETc, of the estimated crop evapotranspiration) were investigated. The field experiment was conducted during 2019 and 2020 seasons at the Experimental Farm of Vegetable Crops Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Cairo. Giza Governorate, Egypt.

Harnessing the Role of Foliar Applied Salicylic Acid in Decreasing Chlorophyll Content to Reassess Photosystem II Photoprotection in Crop Plants.

Salicylic acid (SA), an essential plant hormone, has received much attention due to its role in modulating the adverse effects of biotic and abiotic stresses, acting as an antioxidant and plant growth regulator. However, its role in photosynthesis under non stress conditions is controversial. By chlorophyll fluorescence imaging analysis, we evaluated the consequences of foliar applied 1 mM SA on photosystem II (PSII) efficiency of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants and estimated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Tomato leaves sprayed with 1 mM SA displayed lower chlorophyll content, but the absorbed light energy was preferentially converted into photochemical energy rather than dissipated as thermal energy by non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), indicating photoprotective effects provided by the foliar applied SA. This decreased NPQ, after 72 h treatment by 1 mM SA, resulted in an increased electron transport rate (ETR). The molecular mechanism by which the absorbed light energy was more efficiently directed to photochemistry in the SA treated leaves was the increased fraction of the open PSII reaction centers (qp), and the increased efficiency of open reaction centers (Fv’/Fm’). SA induced a decrease in chlorophyll content, resulting in a decrease in non-regulated energy dissipated in PSII (ΦNO) under high light (HL) treatment, suggesting a lower amount of triplet excited state chlorophyll (3Chl*) molecules available to produce singlet oxygen (1O2). Yet, the increased efficiency, compared to the control, of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) on the donor side of PSII, associated with lower formation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), also contributed to less creation of ROS. We conclude that under non stress conditions, foliar applied SA decreased chlorophyll content and suppressed phototoxicity, offering PSII photoprotection; thus, it can be regarded as a mechanism that reduces photoinhibition and photodamage, improving PSII efficiency in crop plants.

Effects of irrigation methods on transpiration and water use efficiency of tomato

Objective: To explore the effect of high-frequency drip irrigation on the physiological water savings of facility tomatoes. Methods: A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects and mechanisms of conventional flood irrigation (CFI) and high-frequency drip irrigation (HDI) on the transpiration and water use efficiency of tomatoes. Results: a. During the whole growth period, the irrigation times of high-frequency drip irrigation were 44 times, which was 3.4 times of traditional flood irrigation, and the irrigation amount was only 71.0% of flood irrigation. However, there was no significant difference in fruit, stem, or leaf dry weight between the two treatments (<em>p</em> > 0.05). b. The average transpiration of tomatoes under high-frequency drip irrigation was 28.95 L/plant, which was significantly lower than that under traditional flood irrigation by 24.6%. c. Compared with conventional flood irrigation, high-frequency drip irrigation treatment significantly increased irrigation water use efficiency (biomass/irrigation volume) and water physiological use efficiency (biomass/transpiration volume) by 21.2% and 14.2%, respectively (<em>p</em> < 0.05). d. Compared with conventional flood irrigation, high-frequency drip irrigation significantly decreased tomato leaf area, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate by 32.6%, 69.8%, and 54.3%, respectively, and significantly increased leaf δ<sup>13</sup>C value (<em>p</em> < 0.05). Conclusion: High-frequency drip irrigation can not only reduce the amount of irrigation, and improve the utilization efficiency of irrigation water, but also put the plant in a certain state of water deficit, reduce leaf area, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate, and then significantly reduce transpiration water consumption, improve the physiological water use efficiency of tomatoes, and realize physiological water savings.

Optimization of the Regulated Deficit Irrigation Strategy for Greenhouse Tomato Based on the Fuzzy Borda Model

It is of great significance to explore the strategy of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) under mulched drip irrigation to stabilize tomato yield and improve quality and efficiency. This experimental study was conducted on a drip-irrigated greenhouse in two consecutive years (2020 and 2021). Three deficit levels were set for the flowering and fruit development stage (Stage I), and three were set for the fruit-ripening stage (Stage II). As a combination evaluation method, the fuzzy Borda model was used to optimize the RDI strategy of greenhouse tomato. The results showed that the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and total shoot biomass of tomato decreased with an increase in the water deficit, while the intercellular CO2 concentration had an opposite trend. The mild and moderate water deficit at Stage I reduced tomato yield by 16–24% and 30–40% compared to full irrigation. The water deficit at Stage II was able to improve various quality parameters and the water-use efficiency of tomato; the irrigation water-use efficiency (32.8–33.9 kg/m3) and leaf water-use efficiency (3.2–3.6 μmol/mmol) were the highest when the soil water content was 70–90% θf (field capacity) at Stage I and 40–60% θf at Stage II (T3). Based on the fuzzy Borda combination evaluation model, T3 was determined as the treatment with stable yield, high quality, and efficient irrigation under the experimental conditions. The irrigation regime was as follows: irrigating 20–25 mm in the transplanting stage, no irrigation in the seedling stage, irrigating 193.2–220.8 mm at Stage I, and then irrigating 27.6 mm at Stage II.

Effect of Automated Drip Irrigation System on Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of different automated drip irrigation on tomato crop under sandy clay loam soil in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during kharif 2019 and kharif 2020. Five treatments comprising 4 different automated drip irrigation systems are time based drip irrigation, volume based drip irrigation, soil moisture sensor based irrigation, switching tensiometer based irrigation and one is conventional method of irrigation were tested. The results revealed that tensiometer based drip irrigation recorded higher fruit yield of 95.11 and 96.21 t ha-1 and water use efficiency of 21.10 and 25.42 t ha-mm-1 resulting in increment over conventional method of irrigation. However, the above treatment was followed by soil moisture sensor based drip irrigation in tomato. Tensiometer based drip irrigation helps to save the water up to 54.91 and 60.55 % compared to conventional method of irrigation during kharif 2019 and 2020.

Magnesium influences growth, yield, nutrient uptake, and fruit quality of tomato

ABSTRACT The yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is low due to incorrect or use of no magnesium (Mg). An experiment was conducted from October to March 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 to determine the effective dose of Mg to improve yield and quality, and assess nutrient uptake and use efficiency of tomato. Treatments were magnesium at 0 (control), 4, 8, 12, or 16 kg·ha−1. Application of 12 kg·ha−1 Mg produced the most fruit per plant (41.1), heaviest fruit (74.3 g), and greatest fruit yield (69.7 t∙ha−1). Vitamin C content in fruit was best (39.6 mg/100 g) with application of 12 kg·ha−1 Mg. The same treatment had the highest β-carotene (26.1 µg·g−1), improved fruit firmness (1.06 kilogram-force), and had better protein content (18.8%) in mature tomato fruit. Uptake of nutrients was best with 12 kg·ha−1 Mg. Recovery use efficiency of Mg was highest with 8 kg·ha−1 Mg. The best gross margin (48.6%) and benefit-cost ratio (3.11) was with 12 kg·ha−1 Mg. Application of 12 kg·ha−1 Mg appears to improve the quantity, quality, and economics of tomatoes. Regression analysis indicated application of Mg @ 11.3 kg·ha−1 could be optimum to improve the yield of tomatoes under controlled field conditions.

Effects of water and salt coordinated regulation at the different growth stages on water consumption and yield of tomato

The objective of this study was to explore the effects of different degrees of water and salt stress on the actual water consumption and soil salt accumulation of tomatoes and the salt tolerance characteristics of tomatoes under brackish water combined with regulated deficit irrigation mode. The greenhouse pot experiment was used to set three influencing factors, the irrigation water salinity S1 was 1.1 g/L (local shallow groundwater), S2 was 2.0 g/L, and S3 was 4.0 g/L, respectively, and different degrees of water deficit (W1 ranged from 65%-75% Field Capacity (FC), W2 ranged from 55%-65% FC, W3 ranged from 45%-55% FC) and seedling stage (T1), blossoming and bearing fruits stage (T2) and mature picking stage (T3). The response of fresh fruit weight, stems and leaves weight, yield and water use efficiency of tomato under water and salt stress were monitored and analyzed. The results showed the coordinated regulation of water and salt can significantly reduce the electrical conductivity of the 0-30 cm soil of the tomato root system. The higher the salinity of irrigation water, the better the salt control effects of the coordinated regulation of water and salt; the coordinated regulation of water and salt at different growth stages had significant effects on the weight of fresh tomato fruits, the weight of stems and leaves and the yield. The salinity of irrigation water was in inverse proportion to the yield of tomatoes; In S1 treatment irrigation (irrigation water salinity was 1.1 g/L) under the mildly regulated deficit in the seedling stage (irrigation water was 55%-65% of the field water capacity) can effectively reduce the irrigation water volume during the whole growth stage while ensuring that there was no significant reduction in yield. The research results provided a scientific and reliable theoretical basis for the increase of local tomato production, the improvement of water use efficiency and the formulation of suitable irrigation patterns. Keywords: tomato, coordinated regulation of water and salt, soil electrical conductivity, water consumption, yield DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20211404.6238 Citation: Wang W H, Gong Y D. Effects of water and salt coordinated regulation at the different growth stages on water consumption and yield of tomato. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2021; 14(4): 96–105.

Performance of Tomato under Subsurface Drip Irrigation Laterals placed at various Depths in Inceptisols

Tomato is one of the important vegetable crops for nutrition security. The vegetables respond very well to proper irrigation water management towards increasing yield. A study on response of tomato under subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) with laterals placed at 5 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm depth below soil surface was carried out in inceptisols at ICAR- Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi. It was found that soil water content variation was less and more favorable within top 30 cm depth of soil profile under SDI with lateral placed at 10 cm depth below soil surface. The maximum yield of tomato 52.85 t/ha was realized under SDI with lateral placed at 10 cm depth below soil surface followed by yield under 15 cm and 5 cm depth of lateral placement. It was 14.67% higher than the surface drip irrigation. The lowest yield of tomato was recorded 46.09 t/ha with surface drip irrigation. Maximum water use efficiency 1.968 t/ha-cm was obtained with SDI lateral placed at 10 cm depth below soil surface. To realize maximum yield and water use efficiency of tomato, SDI laterals could be placed at 10 cm depth below soil surface.

Ameliorating Effect of Biochar on some Physical Properties of Sandy Soil and Water use Efficiency of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Plant Grown under Drip Irrigation

Field experiments were conducted in two successive seasons (2018 and 2019) to investigate the effect of biochar application rates on weight basis (0.0 % (BC0), 0.2 % (BC1), 0.4 % (BC2) and 0.6 % (BC3)) on soil some physical properties, yield productivity and water use efficiency of tomato grown in sandy soil under drip irrigation. The results indicated that the soil physical properties, yield component and water use efficiency of tomato were significantly and positively affected (P ˂ 0.05) by biochar application treatments. Marked lowering in bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration depth of the sandy soil in both the two growing seasons as results of increasing application rate of biochar. In addition , increasing rate of biochar application resulted in significant increase of total porosity, mean weight diameter (MWD) , soil moisture constants (i.e., saturation percentage (SP), field capacity (F.C.), and wilting point (W.P.)), and soil water retention of sandy soil in both the two growing seasons. The measured available water content (AWC, %) showed a significant increase with increasing rate of biochar application which can be arranged in the order: BC3˃BC2˃BC1˃BC0. The results showed that the highest yield of tomato (32.4 and 31.9 ton.fed-1) was obtained due to BC2 treatment in both seasons. The maximum values of WUE (10.7 and 10.5 kg / m3) were associated with BC2 treatment (0.4 wt. % biochar) in both seasons. Consequently, under sandy soil conditions, application of biochar might be a promising amendment for ameliorating soil physical properties and subsequently enhancing tomato plant productivity. Tomato, Sandy soil, Biochar, Soil Physical Properties, Water use efficiency

Effects of schedules of subsurface drip irrigation with air injection on water consumption, yield components and water use efficiency of tomato in a greenhouse in the North China Plain

In order to test the effects of schedules of subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) with air injection on tomato, two years experiments with three-factors and three-levels were carried out in a spring and summer greenhouse at North China Plain. Three factors were depth of drip belt buried, amount of irrigation water based on the water evaporation of an diameter of 20 cm pan and frequency of air injection. Each factor contained three levels. Results showed that this three factors had significant effects on soil evaporation (Es). Total Es decreased with deeper depth of drip belt buried, smaller amount of irrigation water and greater frequency of air injection. The greatest intensity of daily soil evaporation occurred at seedling stage of tomato. In line with this, total evapotranspiration (ET) decreased significantly with deeper depth of drip belt buried and smaller amount irrigation water as well but the effect of air injection on ET was not significant. Furthermore, the greatest water consumption period of tomato was during its flower and fruit period, and the proportions of total Es accounting for total ET was about 20%～30%. Thus, pan coefficient (Kp) values should be changed according to water requirement of tomato at different phenological stages in practice to achieve a greater water use efficiency (WUE), and the relationship between irrigation water amount and ET was a significant positive linear correlation. As for the yield components of tomato, depth of drip belt buried and amount of irrigation water consistently affected yield components of tomato over two years experiments but its sequences of levels were different in both years. However, the effect of air injection on tomato yield was only effective in one of two years. Based on these findings, some conclusions could be made that optimized ET of tomato under SDI was about 290 mm and proper WUE was about 45～50 kg/m3 at which the highest yield would be harvested, and the most effective depth for burying drip belt was 20 mm, and recommended Kp should be changed at seedling stage (0.5-0.8), flower and fruit stage (1.0-1.2) and the end of growth stage (0.5-0.8).

Effect of different shading factors and irrigation regimes on growth and yield of tomato

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the yield response of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under different shadindg percentages and irrigation regimes through field experiment. The treatment consisted of four shading percentages i.e. 75%, 50%, 35% and 0% (open field) and four irrigation regimes 0.95 ETc, 0.75 ETc, 0.55ETc and 0.35 ETc. The experimental design was split plot with six replications. The biometric attribute plant height was measured at harvest condition and yield attribute viz., average weight of fruit, yield in kg per plant, kg per m2 and yield in t/ha. The results indicated that the interaction of both the factors in respect of plant height was significantly influenced. It was found that the interaction of 75 % shading x 0.95 ETc (S1 x I1) recorded the maximum (223.33 cm) plant height of tomato, which was at par with 75 % shading x 0.75 ETc (S1 x I2) interaction. Considering the results, the study revealed that, shading of 75 % (S1) resulted into maximum and significantly superior yield (186.32 t ha-1) of tomato under shadenet house over 50, 35 and 0 % shading. The irrigation level of 0.95 ETc (I1) resulted into maximum yield (118.88 t ha-1), which was at par with 0.75 ETc (102.75 t ha-1). The interaction effect of 75 % shading 0.95 ETc resulted into the maximum yield of 224.73 t ha-1 and which was at par with other interactions .The water use efficiency of tomato under the treatment of S1I1 (75% x 0.95 ETc) was 36.51 kg m-2 m-1.

Study on the Suitable Irrigation Amount of Microporous Membrane Water-Fertilizer Integration of Tomato in Spring in Plastic Greenhouse

Water-saving irrigation is an important measure to alleviate the shortage of water resources in China. In this study, the growth, nutrient distribution, quality and yield of Tomato under different irrigation treatments are studied by using microporous membrane water-fertilizer integrated technology and the optimal irrigation water quantity under the condition of microporous membrane water-fertilizer integration was determined. The results show that the stem diameter and the fresh and dry weight of tomato increased under the treatment of microporous membrane irrigation, among which the irrigation of 84 m3.667 m-2 was the best, comparing with the traditional flooding irrigation. Microporous membrane irrigation promotes the accumulation of N, P and K in tomato plants. The organic acid content of tomato fruit was the highest under the treatment of 108 m3.667 m-2 and the lycopene content is the highest under the treatment of 96 m3.667 m-2. However, soluble protein, soluble solids, VC content and sugar acid ratio are the highest under the treatment of 84 m3.667 m-2 and the yield and water use efficiency of tomato are the highest under this treatment. Generally, the optimal irrigation amount of tomato under the condition of microporous membrane water-fertilizer integration is 84 m3.667 m-2. The experiment clarifies the crop water demand characteristics and provides a certain theoretical basis for the application of water-saving irrigation technology and high-yield cultivation.

Effect of enhanced ammonium rate on growth and fertilizer use efficiency of greenhouse tomato in an annual succession cropping system

The absorption of inorganic N by greenhouse vegetables is significantly influenced by seasonal variations in northern China. However, little research has been conducted on the effects of enhanced NH4+–N on the growth, quality and fertilizer use efficiency of greenhouse tomato, which could provide the basis for N management in tomato plants under a continuous cropping system throughout the year. A field experiment was designed to study the responses of the photosynthetic characteristics, fruit qualities and water use efficiencies of tomatoes under a continuous cropping system under different N supplies. To summarize according to the equivalent N supply and the combined comprehensive weighing evaluation model, the quality, yield and efficiencies of tomato were closest to the ideal goals under the 30% and 20% NH4+–N in the overwintering and early spring seasons, respectively. The quantitative index provides the basis for the comprehensive management of water and fertilizer at high yields.