Effect of compost tea and partial root zone drying on tomato productivity and quality

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of partial root zone drying in combination with compost tea on growth, morpho-physiological traits, yield and quality attributes of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), a greenhouse experiment was conducted. The ultimate aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of partial root zone drying (PRD) and conventional drip irrigation (CDI) incorporated with compost tea (CT) on tomato productivity and quality. The results of this study indicated positive and significant effect of CT in combination with PRD on fruit size, fruit weight, fruit firmness, cluster per plant, fruit per cluster, fruit lycopene content, pH, TSS and TSS/TA. The PRD treated plant’s fruits exhibited better appearance, higher lycopene content, fruit firmness, total soluble solid (TSS), and TSS/titratable acidity (TA) ratio than fruits plants treated with CDI (conventional drip irrigation). Combined treatment with CDI and CT had positive effect on plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll and water content in fruits. But they exhibited the negative effect on fruits blossom end rot, weight loss, chilling injury, and TA content. The results of this study indicated that CT improve more significantly tomato yield and quality under PRD than CDI. Combining PRD and CT led to the maximization of crop water productivity.