Abstract:
The objective of the study was to evaluate effects of four different drip irrigation levels equivalent to 50, 75, 100, and 125% of crop water requirement (CWR) and three potassium doses of 10.4, 20.8 and 31.2 g plant-1 cycle-1 on production, quality and water use efficiency of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mills), variety Débora Plus. Irrigation, potassium doses and its interaction with irrigation levels had significant effects on total, commercial and non commercial production at 5% level. Marketable yields reached a maximum of 64.4 t ha-1 at 20.8 g plant-1 cycle-1 of potassium, produced at 75% CWR. Maximum water use efficiency was 12.4 kg m-3 of applied water, also obtained at 75% CWR leading to reduction of 25% CWR hence optimizing water resources through improved efficiency of water applications to the plant.
