Growth-Stage-Specific Kc of Greenhouse Tomato Plants Grown in Semi-Arid Mediterranean Region
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Growth stage specific crop coefficient for greenhouse tomatoes grown in the semi arid Mediterranean was evaluated. The evaluation consisted of two simultaneous field trails: 1) Data accumulation of the water consumption of round and cherry tomato plants with the use of drainage lysimeters. 2) Irrigation of tomatoes planted in local sandy soil with either reduced or excess irrigation water doses using the lysimeter water consumption data as the reference criteria. Crop coefficients of between 0.3-1 for the time period from seedling establishment until first fruit harvest and 0.8 for the fruit harvest period were recorded for the winter season round tomato crop. During the summer season, coefficients of between 0.2-0.9 for the time period from seedling establishment until first fruit harvest and 0.8 for the fruit harvest period were measured for the round tomato crop. The cherry cluster cultivar showed a slightly different pattern of water consumption with a peak in crop coefficient at the middle of the fruit harvest stage and a continuous reduction in water consumption until the end of the growth period. Excess irrigation rates damaged the post harvest quality of the fruit of one of the tested cultivars. Reduced irrigation rates caused a reduction in the mean weight of the fruit.
Source: Journal of Agricultural Science
Institution: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Climate action
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2017334589