The effect of upper-limit of soil water content on tomato and cucumber
College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University. Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100 China, Department of For?eign Languages, Northwest A&F University. Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100 China, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Palmerston
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2009.v11i02.23
Key words: Upper-limit, soil water content, yield, fruit quality, tomato, cucumber
Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the optimum upper limit of soil water content (SWC) for tomato and cucumber from early stages after transplanting. Five different upper limits of SWC were tested at the lowest limit of 60% of field capacity (FC) for tomato and of 75% for cucumber. Stem growth, root viability, yield and fruit concentrations of vitamin C and total soluble solids were significantly affected by the treatment. The highest yield and best fruit quality was obtained at 85% of FC for tomato and at 90% for cucumber. This suggests that irrigating to FC does not necessarily result in higher yields and better fruit quality.
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