ISHS Acta Horticulturae 664: IV International Symposium on Irrigation of Horticultural Crops
THE USE OF MICROLYSIMETERS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF ETM (MAXIMUM EVAPOTRANSPIRATION) ON CAMONE TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM MILL.) HYBRID IN GREENHOUSE |
| Authors: | M.G. Mameli, A. Sirigu, A. Soddu, F. Chessa, S. Meloni |
| Keywords: | phenophases, berries, irrigation treatment, berry size, pot |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.664.47 |
| Abstract:
Soil salinity and poor irrigation water quality and management are the main causes of reduced yields in tomato production. On the other hand, tomato quality parameters such as berry diameter, consistency, and soluble solids have improved, especially in the most popular local tomato hybrid (Camone). A two-year experiment was carried out using microlysimeters to assess induced water stress levels in order to measure the daily maximum evapotranspiration (ETM). During the 1st year different levels of induced water stress were imposed by applying different irrigation volumes: 80%, 60%, 40% ETM. In the second year, two different irrigation levels were used (50% and 25% ETM). Irrigation timing was based on the 100% ETM treatment. Irrigation was applied following depletion of 20% of available water (AW) in the first year and 40% in the second year. The long-cycle tomato cropping system (October-June) was adopted. Irrigation treatments mostly affected fruit size and quality. Microlysimeters proved to be a reliable system of ET measurement; however, the actual ETM level was underestimated due to the development of plants in pots. | |
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