EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION METHODS ON THE GROWTH, YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF TOMATOES IN RED RIVER DELTA ALLUVIAL SOIL

Abstract

       This experiment was conducted during the winter of 2014 on the alluvial soils of the Red River delta to evaluate the effect of irrigation method on the growth, yield and water use efficiency of tomato. Soils used for experiments are alluvial, neutral, less acidic, not silted annually. Experimental results have shown that drip irrigation positively affected growing period, plant height, fruiting rate, yield and water use efficiency. Drip irrigation prolonged tomato growing period from 6 - 11 days compared to furrow irrigation; plant height in the treatments with drip irrigation was also higher compared with furrow irrigation. The fruiting rate in the treatments with drip irrigation was higher than in furrow irrigation, the highest fruiting rate was obtained in drip treatment T4 with (70 - 100)% βdr (βdr is field capacity) of 71.3%. Drip irrigation has increased individual yield of tomato plants from 8.9 - 36.3%, while reduced the amount of irrigation water from 22 - 39.1% and water use efficiency increased from 30 - 57% compared to furrow irrigation. The drip irrigation treatment with (70 - 100)% βdr (T4) achieved highest individual yield and water use efficiency (2788.2 gplant-1; 16 kg/m³).