Determination of automated optimum irrigation program in greenhouse tomato production

The research was conducted in PE covered greenhouse placed in the International Agricultural Research and Training Center during the spring growing season of 2014 and tomato (cv Newton F) was selected. In this research, applied irrigation levels were based on the irrigation schedules which allow consuming of different levels of available plant root zone moisture capacity. Available moisture capacity is allowed to be consumed in full irrigation treatment (S1) 15%, (S2) 30%, (S3) 45% and (S4) 60%, to set available moisture capacity levels 85-100%, 70-85%, 55-70% and 40-55% in the irrigation treatments S1, S2, S3 and S4 respectively. The experimental design was conducted as a randomized block design with 3 replications. In this research drip irrigation system and for the timing of irrigation soil moisture sensors, placed in the plant root zone, were used. Plant water consumption was determined 241 mm, 204.2 mm, 125.9 mm, 92.3 mm, respectively. Yields were obtained in irrigation treatments as 10.32 kg/m2, 9.68 kg/m2, 7.42 kg/m2, 5.57 kg/m2, respectively. Efficiency factor values (ky) of marketable and total yield were determined 0.68 and 0.66, respectively. Water use efficiency (WUE) (kg/m3) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) (kg/m3) values were determined in the marketable and total yield ranging from 41.26-59.15 kg/m3 , 41.26-60.35 kg/m3 and 42.82-59.74 kg/m3, 42.82-60.94 kg/m3, respectively. Fruit quality analysis results showed that irrigation treatments were statistically significant only on fruit firmness, but no significance on other quality parameters. Araştırmadan elde edilen bulgulara göre; uygun sulama yönünden, sera domates yetiştiriciliğinde bitki kök bölgesindeki nem açığının %30'u aşmaması gerektiği sonucuna varılmıştır According to the results, 30% of soil moisture depletion is recommended during the application of automated ırrıgatıon in greenhouse tomato productıon. Keywords : Greenhouse, tomato, soil moisture sensor, automation , plant water consumption.