Tomato development and yield under different irrigation frequencies in greenhouse

Plant cultivation in substrate under greenhouse conditions needs technical knowledge to promote water and nutrient use efficiency. In this work were evaluated the tomato development and yield under different irrigation frequencies cultivated in greenhouse. The experiment was carried out in Campinas, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, from November, 2003 to April, 2004. The experimental design consisted of six treatments in randomized blocks with four replications. The treatments consisted of the irrigation frequencies: five, four, three, two and one times a day and irrigation on alternating days. The irrigation was applied by drip irrigation system. The substrate consisted of coconut fiber. The one, three, four and five times a day irrigation frequency provided better total marketable tomato yield. The greater number of fruits and average weight of fruit were obtained under the one, two, three, four and five times a day irrigation frequencies. The irrigation frequency once a day and alternating days provided greater number of no marketable fruits.