Articles
RESPONSE OF FIELD-GROWN TOMATOES TO NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM APPLIED WITH DRIP OR FURROW IRRIGATION
Article number
571_22
Pages
187 – 193
Language
English
Abstract
A field study was conducted on a sandy loam soil in order to determine the response of tomatoes (H-2274 cv) to nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) applied with irrigation water through drip irrigation system or with conventional furrow irrigation.
Treatments tested were as follows: a.
Drip-fertigation (DF) : 84 kg N/ha, 105 kg K/ha,17 kg Mg/ha, and 1.05 kg Fe/ha were applied with irrigation water throughout the growing season via a drip irrigation system. b.
Furrow Irrigation (FI1) : In this treatment, the same amount of N and K were applied to the plant as in the DF treatment; (84 kg N/ha – 105 kg K/ha) c.
Furrow Irrigation (FI2) : In this treatment, 220 kg N and 270 kg K per ha were applied to the plant.
There were significant differences between treatments in terms of yield and quality parameters.
The highest yield (71 ton/ha) was obtained from the drip- fertigated treatment.
In DF treatment, total yield was 1.21 and 0.72 times higher when compared to FI1 and FI2 treatments, respectively.
The increased yield resulted from both an increased fruit set and fruit size.
Large fruit yield percentages were found to be 47% for DF, 28% for FI1 and 33% for FI2 treatment.
Total fruit number and mean fruit weight (80 fruit/m2 and 88 g/fruit, respectively) were also higher in DF than in FI1 and FI2 treatments.
Total soluble solid (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA) of fruit were lower in DF treatment.
N, P and K contents of the leaves were slightly lower in DF treatment than the others.
Soil salinity and P contents were higher in DF treatment than those of furrow irrigated treatments.
This study showed that drip-applied N and K produced higher yield and quality of tomatoes than N and K applied with conventional furrow technique.
The data also revealed that increasing the amounts of N and K applied is not enough to obtain the highest yield and quality unless the water is regularly supplied.
Treatments tested were as follows: a.
Drip-fertigation (DF) : 84 kg N/ha, 105 kg K/ha,17 kg Mg/ha, and 1.05 kg Fe/ha were applied with irrigation water throughout the growing season via a drip irrigation system. b.
Furrow Irrigation (FI1) : In this treatment, the same amount of N and K were applied to the plant as in the DF treatment; (84 kg N/ha – 105 kg K/ha) c.
Furrow Irrigation (FI2) : In this treatment, 220 kg N and 270 kg K per ha were applied to the plant.
There were significant differences between treatments in terms of yield and quality parameters.
The highest yield (71 ton/ha) was obtained from the drip- fertigated treatment.
In DF treatment, total yield was 1.21 and 0.72 times higher when compared to FI1 and FI2 treatments, respectively.
The increased yield resulted from both an increased fruit set and fruit size.
Large fruit yield percentages were found to be 47% for DF, 28% for FI1 and 33% for FI2 treatment.
Total fruit number and mean fruit weight (80 fruit/m2 and 88 g/fruit, respectively) were also higher in DF than in FI1 and FI2 treatments.
Total soluble solid (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA) of fruit were lower in DF treatment.
N, P and K contents of the leaves were slightly lower in DF treatment than the others.
Soil salinity and P contents were higher in DF treatment than those of furrow irrigated treatments.
This study showed that drip-applied N and K produced higher yield and quality of tomatoes than N and K applied with conventional furrow technique.
The data also revealed that increasing the amounts of N and K applied is not enough to obtain the highest yield and quality unless the water is regularly supplied.
Authors
S. Güler, H. Kar, H. Ibrikci
Keywords
Lycopersicon esculentum, fruit quality, leaf nutrient content
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