Subirrigation in Soilless Tomato Growing

The objective of this research was to determine the effects of different nutrient solution concentrations and pot types on yield, evapotranspiration and water use efficiency of subirrigated tomatoes. Experiments were carried out in a polyethylene covered bitunnel type greenhouse in 2004 and 2005 as two consecutive production season. Plant cultivar was Durinta and growing medium was perlite. Two nutrient solution concentrations (Full and Half) and two pot types (Strophor and AutoPot (R)) were tested. Effects of nutrient concentrations and pot types on total and marketable yield were found statistically significant in both seasons. AutoPot (R) had higher total and marketable yield in autumn while Strophor pots gave higher yield than AutoPot (R) in spring. Yield obtained from half concentration (14.1 kg.m(-2)) was higher than full concentration (13.8 kg.m(-2)). However, half concentration provided higher total yield (14%), marketable yield (13%) and average fruit weight (14%) than full concentration. Higher water use efficiencies were determined in autumn (43.4 - 57.3 kg.m(-3)) than spring (28.1 - 31.8 kg.m(-3)), due to lower evapotranspiration in autumn.