Efeito de diferentes tensões de água no solo sobre o desenvolvimento inicial do tomateiro

Abstract

Different cultivars and variety of tomato can have different water requirements, making it essential to study the water demand for these crops. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of different water tensions in soil on the development of tomato cultivar Dominator F1 under protected cultivation and irrigated by drip, in Lavras, MG. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments consisted of six levels of water tension in the soil as indicative of time to irrigate. The predetermined voltages were 20, 45, 70, 95, 120 and 145 kPa. After 64 days after start of treatment, the variables were evaluated: plant height, leaf number, number of clusters, stem diameter and number of fruits. The results showed that the variables were lower when it increased the water tension in the soil and to higher values, the irrigations should be done when the water tension in the soil, to 0.20 m deep, is around 20 kPa.