Articles
IRRIGATION FOR MECHANIZED HARVEST OF PROCESSING TOMATOES
The supply of water-needs must allow the crop to achieve the desired mature stage, in the best state for harvest and yield, and to satisfy processing needs.
The 1981–85 experimentation with a single-harvest variety is carried to define the water-needs level during the flowering and setting period, and the management of irrigation during the last stage (fruit development and ripening). Agronomic and technological datas are investigated in order to determine the most appropriate management for sprinkler and drip irrigation.
These datas show that the single harvest varieties need a water supply close at the ETP level during flowering and setting.
During the last period the supply must be reduced to 50% of the ETP level until the irrigation is stopped, at 30–50% maturity stage.
The drip irrigation study shows that the water supply must not exceed 70–80% of the sprinkler irrigation doses, that is about 60% of the ETP Bouchet or 78% of ETP Brochet Gerbier.
In these conditions, economic advantages are foreseen.
All excess induces an important decrease of the processing grade (°Brix, pH).