Effect of different irrigation schedules, substrates and substrate volumes on fruit quality and yield of greenhouse tomato

This study was conducted to determine the effects of three irrigation schedules in combination with locally available substrates and different bag volumes on yield, fruit quality and water consumption of tomato (cv. Fantastic). The substrates were: (1) perlite, (2) pumice, (3) volcanic ash, (4) perlite + peat (4:1, v/v), (5) pumice + peat (4:1, v/v) and (6) volcanic ash + peat (4:1, v/v). Irrigation was carried out according to the drainage volume as (1) once, (2) twice and (3) four times a day. The experimental design was split split plots with 3 replicates. The main plots, subplots and sub-subplots were irrigation schedule, substrate volume (4 and 8 litres) and substrate, respectively. Cumulative yield at two week intervals and some quality parameters (average fruit weight, total soluble solids, total dry matter content, pH, EC, vitamin C, titratable acidity) were determined. Experimental factors were found to significantly affect on yield after the 10(th) week. The higher total yields were obtained from plants grown in perlite+peat (7.4 kg/plant) and perlite (7.2 kg/plant). 8 litres rooting volume per plant resulted in a higher total yield (7.4 kg/plant) in comparison with 4 litres (6.2 kg/plant). Total yield obtained from the plants irrigated once a day (6.4 kg/plant) was lower than those obtained from the plants irrigated twice (6.9 kg/plant) and four times (7.1 kg/plant) daily. Fruit quality parameters varied according to treatments and sampling dates.