THE EFFECT OF WATER STRESS ON TOMATO UNDER DIFFERENT EMITTER DISCHARGES AND SEMI-ARID CLIMATE CONDITION

M. Celebi

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of water stress on tomato. The experiment was conducted in a loamy soil under semi-arid climate conditions of Konya in 2010 and 2011. Irrigation water was applied using Class A pan evaporation (Kpc = 0.60, 0.80, 1.00, and 1.20) with six days irrigation intervals and with two different emitter discharges ratios. Drip irrigation
laterals were arranged for every row. Significant differences in fruit yields were found among all treatments (p<0.01). Maximum marketable fruit yield (83.8 - 73.9 t ha-1) was obtained under conditions of AS1 and BS1 applications, respectively. Maximum irrigation water applied of the mention applications were determined as 507.1 mm and 365.1 mm and seasonal evapotranspiration were determined as 657.0 mm and 538.1 mm, respectively. The crop yield response factor was 2.28 - 2.04 under conditions of BS1, and 1.45 - 1.53 under conditions of AS1 by years, respectively. Hand harvest tomato varieties (Lycopersicon esculentum cv.H2274) responded to water restraint with a significant proportional decrease on yield under semi-arid climate conditions. In addition, water stress increased the susceptibility of plants to attack by pathogens.

Keywords: crop yield response factor; emitter discharges ratios; evapotranspiration; tomato; water restraint

Date published: 2017-10-11