The Effect of Different Methods of Water Application Management on Quantitative and Qualitative Properties and Water Productivity of Tomato

The limitations of water resources and recent droughts have dictated to use modern crop production systems for reducing water application and increasing water productivity. This research was carried out in the integrated greenhouse of agricultural faculty of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz in 2016. This study has investigated the effects of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and partial root zone drying (PRD) on tomato under hydroponic culture conditions. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replicates and five treatments, consisted of RDI at 85 and 70% of plant water requirement, PRD irrigation at 85 and 70% of the plant water requirement, and control. The results showed that the different methods and levels of deficit irrigation did not have a significant effect on calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, pH, TSS, organic matter and fruit diameter, while they have significant effect on the number of fruits, fruit weight, fruit height, and water productivity. The highest fruit weights per plant and water productivity were observed in PRD85 treatment and the least fruit weight per plant and water productivity were observed in PRD70 treatment. Also, deficit irrigation through PRD85 was selected as the best treatment for hydroponic cultivation of tomato.