Plant–water relations, growth and productivity of tomato irrigated by different methods with saline and non‐saline water

ABSTRACT The effects of saline and non‐saline irrigation water on the growth, plant water uptake, water content and yield of tomato ( Solanum esculentum Mill. cv Floradade) were evaluated using drip and furrow irrigation. At all growth stages, leaf area and plant dry weight (biomass) were higher under drip irrigation than under furrow irrigation for both saline and non‐saline water. Saline water reduced both plant leaf area and dry weight and the reduction was more pronounced when furrow rather than drip irrigation was used. In addition, the width of the area occupied by roots and their dry weight were higher in drip than furrow‐irrigated plants. However, roots of furrow‐irrigated plants were deeper than those of drip‐irrigated plants. In drip‐irrigated plants, root activity in the wetted root zone enhanced soil moisture depletion (water uptake) and hence resulted in higher plant water content, even in plants irrigated with saline water (up to 80 days after transplanting, “DAT”). Water use efficiency, estimated as the amount of water added per unit of dry weight produced, was higher with drip irrigation than furrow irrigation, particularly when saline water was used (until 80 DAT). Fruit ripened earlier on drip irrigated‐plants than on furrow‐irrigated ones and the total yield was higher with drip than with furrow irrigation. Saline water reduced both total and early yield, particularly when applied by furrow. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.