Alternate use of good and saline irrigation water (1:1) on the performance of tomato cultivar

A pot experiment was set in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement using tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv "Tatto") to examine the effect of cyclic irrigation with good and saline waters and mineral fertilization on yield and mineral constituents. The experiment consisted of two irrigation practices (W1 and W2) and two levels of phosphorus (P1 and P2) equivalent to 350 and 470 kg superphosphate/ha, respectively, added at the beginning of the experiment. The nitrogen (N) levels were 0, 800, and 1600 kg urea/ha, respectively, split into six doses. A basal dose of potassium (K) was added at the rate of 350 kg K2SO4/ha. One healthy seedling of tomato was transplanted three weeks after germination to each pot (0.07 m2) filled with soil classified as Torrifluvents. The treatments were replicated thrice and the pots were put in an open area at the Rumais Research Station facility. The quantity of irrigation water applied was approximated according to the data available at Rumais station. Similar quantities of good and saline waters were applied alternately to all treatments. The water-stress treatment (cyclic irrigation) started 15 d from transplanting. Yield, total soluble solids (TSS), and mineral constituents were determined. The results indicated that alternate irrigation reduced yield, but the differences between the water treatments were not significant. Nitrogen application showed a significant linear response in tomato fruit yield, and the interaction between treatments was not significant. It was also revealed that the differences between the P treatments were significant, with P2 (470 kg/ha) giving lower yields. Cyclic irrigation and mineral fertilization increased significantly the TSS. Nitrogen application at the rate of 800 kg/ha (N2) gave the highest TSS in the two water treatments at a P application rate of 470 kg/ha (P2). On the other hand, increasing the nitrogen (N) application rate to 1600 kg/ha (N4) reduced the total soluble solids in the presence of P in the two water treatments. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Inc.