Biomass, fruit yield, water productivity and quality response of processing tomato to plant density and deficit irrigation under a semi-arid Mediterranean climate
Cristina Patanè A C and Alessandro Saita B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) – Istituto per la Valorizzazione del Legno e delle Specie Arboree (IVALSA), UOS di Catania, via Paolo Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy.
B Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente (Di3A), Università degli Studi di Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy.
C Corresponding author. Email: cristinamaria.patane@cnr.it
Crop and Pasture Science 66(2) 224-234 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP14152
Submitted: 5 June 2014 Accepted: 13 October 2014 Published: 24 February 2015
Abstract
A 2-year study was conducted to examine the impact of deficit irrigation on dry biomass, water-use efficiency (WUE), fruit yield and quality in open-field processing tomato at high plant density in a semi-arid environment. Three irrigation treatments (nil; and 100% (full) and 50% (deficit) restoration of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), respectively) and two plant densities (2.5 (P1) and 5.0 (P2) plants m–2) were studied. Dry biomass and fruit yield per plant were lower in P2 than in P1, but at high plant density the crop compensated for biomass and yield decrease at the plant level. Fruit yield in P2 was greater than that in P1, by 36% in 2004 and 33% in 2005. Water limitation improved quality traits compared with full irrigation. Deficit irrigation, especially in P2, enhanced WUE and allowed a water saving of >45% relative to full irrigation, while keeping high levels of fruit quality. The yield response factor, Ky, which correlates relative fruit yield losses to relative ETc reduction, was higher (0.63) than Kss (0.44), which correlates relative total dry biomass losses to relative ETc reduction, revealing a greater crop sensitivity to soil-water deficit in terms of fruit yield than dry biomass. Therefore, Ky may of use in identifying the plant density at which water productivity is maximised or yield losses are minimised.
Additional keywords: deficit irrigation, plant density, processing tomato, water-use efficiency, yield response factor.
References
Adani FP, Genevini P, Zaccheo P, Zocchi G (1998) The effect of commercial humic acid on tomato plant growth and mineral nutrition. Journal of Plant Nutrition 21, 561–575.| The effect of commercial humic acid on tomato plant growth and mineral nutrition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXhvVOls7k%3D&md5=bc35a7a5ba04117a4cd4fbd9989160ecCAS |
AOAC (1990) ‘Official methods of analysis.’ 15th edn (Association of Official Analytical Chemists: Washington, DC, USA)
Cebula S (1995) Optimization of plant and shoot spacing in greenhouse production of sweet pepper. Acta Horticulturae 412, 321–328.
Costa JM, Ortuño MF, Chaves MM (2007) Deficit irrigation as a strategy to save water: physiology and potential application to horticulture. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 49, 1421–1434.
| Deficit irrigation as a strategy to save water: physiology and potential application to horticulture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Doorenbos J, Pruitt WO (1977) ‘Guidelines for predicting crop water requirements.’ Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 24. p. 179. (FAO: Rome)
Dorais M, Papadopoulos A, Gosselin A (2001) Greenhouse tomato fruit quality. Horticultural Reviews 26, 239–319.
Favati F, Lovelli S, Galgano F, Miccolis V, Di Tommaso T, Candido V (2009) Processing tomato quality as affected by irrigation scheduling. Scientia Horticulturae 122, 562–571.
| Processing tomato quality as affected by irrigation scheduling.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Frost DJ, Kretchman DW (1988) Plant spatial arrangement and density effects on small- and medium-vined processing tomatoes. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 113, 51–55.
Gaye MM, Jolliffe PA, Maurer AR (1992) Row cover and population density effects on yield of bell peppers in south coastal British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 72, 901–909.
| Row cover and population density effects on yield of bell peppers in south coastal British Columbia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hamid AA, Salih SO, Abdalla AE, El Naim AM (2010) Effect of sowing date and plant density on growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences 6, 665–669.
Igbadun HE, Salim BA, Tarimo AKPR, Mahoo HF (2008) Effects of deficit irrigation scheduling on yields and soil water balance of irrigated maize. Irrigation Science 27, 11–23.
| Effects of deficit irrigation scheduling on yields and soil water balance of irrigated maize.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ilahy R, Hdider C, Lenucci MS, Tlili I, Dalessandro G (2011) Phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of high-lycopene tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivars grown in Southern Italy. Scientia Horticulturae 127, 255–261.
| Phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of high-lycopene tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivars grown in Southern Italy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhsFygtLvN&md5=057da6b550c44d8e3f945c1efda37f84CAS |
Istanbulluoglu A (2009) Effects of irrigation regimes on yield and water productivity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under Mediterranean climatic conditions. Agricultural Water Management 96, 1792–1798.
| Effects of irrigation regimes on yield and water productivity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under Mediterranean climatic conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Johnstone PR, Hartz TK, LeStrange M, Nunez JJ, Miyao EM (2005) Managing fruit soluble solids with late-season deficit irrigation in drip-irrigated processing tomato production. HortScience 40, 1857–1861.
Kirnak H, Demirtas MN (2006) Effects of different irrigation regimes and mulches on yield and macronutrition levels of drip-irrigated cucumber under open field conditions. Journal of Plant Nutrition 29, 1675–1690.
| Effects of different irrigation regimes and mulches on yield and macronutrition levels of drip-irrigated cucumber under open field conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XhtVSkt7bJ&md5=53c1df8343a4a6eda5453c0ba1c65225CAS |
Kuşçu H, Turhan A, Demir AO (2014a) The response of processing tomato to deficit irrigation at various phenological stages in a sub-humid environment. Agricultural Water Management 133, 92–103.
| The response of processing tomato to deficit irrigation at various phenological stages in a sub-humid environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kuşçu H, Turhan A, Ozmen N, Aydinol P, Demir AO (2014b) Optimizing levels of water and nitrogen applied through drip irrigation for yield, quality, and water productivity of processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Horticulture, Environment and Biotechnology 55, 103–114.
Law-Ogbomo KE, Egharevba RKA (2009) Effects of planting density and NPK fertilizer application on yield and yield components of tomato (Lycospersicon esculentum Mill.) in forest location. World Journal of Agricultural Science 5, 152–158.
Lorenzo P, Castilla N (1995) Bell pepper yield response to plant density and radiation in unheated plastic greenhouse. Acta Horticulturae 412, 330–334.
Lovelli S, Perniola M, Ferrara A, Di Tommaso T (2007) Yield response factor to water (Ky) and water use efficiency of Carthamus tinctorius L. and Solanum melongena L. Agricultural Water Management 92, 73–80.
| Yield response factor to water (Ky) and water use efficiency of Carthamus tinctorius L. and Solanum melongena L.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Machado RMA, Oliveira MRG (2005) Tomato root distribution, yield and fruit quality under different subsurface drip irrigation regimes and depths. Irrigation Science 24, 15–24.
| Tomato root distribution, yield and fruit quality under different subsurface drip irrigation regimes and depths.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marouelli WA, Silva WLC (2007) Water tension thresholds for processing tomatoes under drip irrigation in Central Brazil. Irrigation Science 25, 411–418.
| Water tension thresholds for processing tomatoes under drip irrigation in Central Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ozbahce A, Tari AF (2010) Effects of different emitter space and water stress on yield and quality of processing tomato under semi-arid climate conditions. Agricultural Water Management 97, 1405–1410.
| Effects of different emitter space and water stress on yield and quality of processing tomato under semi-arid climate conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Patanè C (2011) Leaf area index, leaf transpiration and stomatal conductance as affected by soil water deficit and VPD in processing tomato in semi arid Mediterranean climate. Journal of Agronomy & Crop Science 197, 165–176.
| Leaf area index, leaf transpiration and stomatal conductance as affected by soil water deficit and VPD in processing tomato in semi arid Mediterranean climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Patanè C, Cosentino SL (2010) Effects of soil water deficit on yield and quality of processing tomato under a Mediterranean climate. Agricultural Water Management 97, 131–138.
| Effects of soil water deficit on yield and quality of processing tomato under a Mediterranean climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Patanè C, Tringali S, Sortino O (2011a) Effects of deficit irrigation on biomass, yield, water productivity and fruit quality of processing tomato under semi-arid Mediterranean climate conditions. Scientia Horticulturae 129, 590–596.
| Effects of deficit irrigation on biomass, yield, water productivity and fruit quality of processing tomato under semi-arid Mediterranean climate conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Patanè C, La Rosa S, Tringali S, Scandurra S (2011b) Radiation use and irrigation water use efficiency in processing tomato at two plant densities under deficit irrigation in a Mediterranean climate. Acta Horticulturae 922, 169–175.
Pereira LS, Oweis T, Zairi A (2002) Irrigation management under water scarcity. Agricultural Water Management 57, 175–206.
| Irrigation management under water scarcity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rouphael Y, Colla G (2005) Radiation and water use efficiencies of greenhouse zucchini squash in relation to different climate parameters. European Journal of Agronomy 23, 183–194.
| Radiation and water use efficiencies of greenhouse zucchini squash in relation to different climate parameters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rudich J, Kalmar D, Geizenberg C, Harel S (1977) Low water tensions in defined growth stages of processed tomato plants and their effects on yield and quality. Journal of Horticultural Science 52, 391–399.
Scholberg J, McNeal BL, Jones JW, Boote KJ, Stanley CD, Obreza TA (2000) Growth and canopy characteristics of field-grown tomato. Agronomy Journal 92, 152–159.
| Growth and canopy characteristics of field-grown tomato.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Singh Y, Rao SS, Regar OL (2010) Deficit irrigation and nitrogen effects on seed cotton yield, water productivity and yield response factor in shallow soils of semi-arid environment. Agricultural Water Management 97, 965–970.
| Deficit irrigation and nitrogen effects on seed cotton yield, water productivity and yield response factor in shallow soils of semi-arid environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Snedecor GW, Cochran WG (1989) ‘Statistical methods.’ 8th edn (Iowa State University Press: Ames, IA, USA)
Soil Survey Staff (1999) ‘Soil Taxonomy.’ 2nd edn. Agricultural Handbook No. 436. (USDA-ARS: Washington, DC, USA)
Srinivasa Rao NK, Bhatt RM, Sadashiva AT (2000) Tolerance to water stress in tomato cultivars. Photosynthetica 38, 465–467.
| Tolerance to water stress in tomato cultivars.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tan CS (1995) Effect of drip and sprinkle irrigation on yield and quality of five tomato cultivars in southwwestern Ontario. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 75, 225–230.
| Effect of drip and sprinkle irrigation on yield and quality of five tomato cultivars in southwwestern Ontario.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tardieu F, Granier C, Muller B (1999) Modelling leaf expansion in a fluctuating environment: are changes in specific leaf area a consequence of changes in expansion rate? New Phytologist 143, 33–43.
| Modelling leaf expansion in a fluctuating environment: are changes in specific leaf area a consequence of changes in expansion rate?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Topcu S, Kirda C, Dasgan Y, Kaman H, Cetin M, Yazici A, Bacon MA (2007) Yield response and N-fertiliser recovery of tomato grown under deficit irrigation. European Journal of Agronomy 26, 64–70.
| Yield response and N-fertiliser recovery of tomato grown under deficit irrigation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Torrecillas S, Guillaume C, Alarcón JJ, Ruiz-Sánchez MC (1995) Water relations of two tomato species under water stress and recovery. Plant Science 105, 169–176.
| Water relations of two tomato species under water stress and recovery.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXktFCns7c%3D&md5=fab12933517199c03f33fc57f30e939eCAS |
Verheij EWM, Verwer FLJAW (1971) Light interception and yield of peppers grown under glass in relation to plant spacing. Acta Horticulturae 32, 149–158.
Wang F, Kang S, Du T, Li F, Qiu R (2011) Determination of comprehensive quality index for tomato and its response to different irrigation treatments. Agricultural Water Management 98, 1228–1238.
| Determination of comprehensive quality index for tomato and its response to different irrigation treatments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Warner J, Hao X, Zhang TQ (2002) Effects of row arrangement and plant density on yield and quality of early, small-vined processing tomatoes. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 82, 765–770.
| Effects of row arrangement and plant density on yield and quality of early, small-vined processing tomatoes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yohannes F, Tadesse T (1998) Effect of drip and furrow irrigation and plant spacing on yield of tomato at Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Agricultural Water Management 35, 201–207.
| Effect of drip and furrow irrigation and plant spacing on yield of tomato at Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zotarelli L, Scholberg JM, Dukes MD (2009) Tomato yield, biomass accumulation, root distribution and irrigation water use efficiency on a sandy soil, as affected by nitrogen rate and irrigation scheduling. Agricultural Water Management 96, 23–34.
| Tomato yield, biomass accumulation, root distribution and irrigation water use efficiency on a sandy soil, as affected by nitrogen rate and irrigation scheduling.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
