Responses of Fruit Yield and Quality of Tomato to Water Deficit and Fertigation Levels under Greenhouse Condition

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted for two seasons during 2012-2013 at Hi-Tech-Horticulture unit, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad,Karnataka, India to evaluate the effect of drip irrigation and fertigation levels on tomato hybrid STH-801 under polyhouse condition. Three drip irrigation regimes (40, 60 and 80% ETc) were based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc) that was computed using Class A pan evaporation data and three fertigation levels (50, 75 and 100% RDF) in the form of water soluble fertilizer were laid out in factorial RCBD design and replicated thrice with one absolute control (drip irrigation at 100% ETc and soil application of 100% RDF in the form of conventional fertilizer). Drip irrigation at 40% ETc gave higher TSS, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, total phenol andlycopene content over 60 and 80% ETc. However, yield recorded by 60 and 80% ETc irrigation regimes were on par and significantly higher as compares to 40% ETc irrigation regimes. Fertigation at 100% RDF recorded maximum TSS, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, total phenol, lycopene content and yield which was par with 75% RDF and significantly superior over 50% RDF. Application of fertilizers through fertigation in the form of water soluble fertilizer enhanced yield and quality of fruits as compared with soil application of conventional fertilizer.