ISSN 2756-3804
International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 3 (10), pp. 001-008, October, 2016. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Effect of irrigation management on yield and quality of tomatoes grown in different soilless media in a glasshouse
S. Metin Sezen1*, Gülendam Celikel2, Attila Yazar3, Servet Tekin3 and Burcak Kapur3
1Department of Water Management, Soil and Water Resources Tarsus Research Institute, PO Box 23, 33400, Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey.
2Alata Horticultural Research Institute, 33740, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey.
3Department of Irrigation and Agricultural Structures, Faculty of Agriculture, Cukurova University, 01330, Adana, Turkey.
Accepted 09 July, 2016
Abstract
Global warming and resulting drought is the most important constraint affecting plant production in the Mediterranean Region. Therefore, effective management of scarce water resources is of paramount importance in this region. This research was conducted to determine the optimal irrigation strategy for drip irrigated fresh market tomato grown in different soilless culture in a glasshouse in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Volcanic ash, peat and their mixture were used as growth media. Four different irrigation levels (WL1=75%; WL2=100%; WL 3=125% and WL4=150% of Class A Pan evaporation) and two watering frequencies (once and twice daily applications) were evaluated. Highest yield and fruit number were obtained from the ash+peat mixture (1:1) with twice a day watering at WL4 irrigation level. Soluble solids of tomato fruit decreased with increasing available water. The highest irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) value of 121.4 kg m -3 was obtained from once a day irrigation WL1 irrigation level with peat+ash (1:1). IWUE decreased in all treatments as the amount of irrigation water increased.
Key words: Peat, volcanic ash, substrate, drip irrigation, class A Pan, irrigation water use efficiency.