Optimal irrigation management practices for tomato cultivation often vary under different climatic conditions and soil types. A two-year greenhouse experiment (2023–2024) was conducted in Zhejiang, China, to assess the effects of different irrigation levels on the fruit yield, quality, and water and nutrient use efficiency. Five irrigation levels were established on the basis of soil matric potentials at 20-cm depth, namely, − 10, − 20, − 30, − 40, and − 50 kPa, which are denoted as T10, T20, T30, T40, and T50, respectively. The results revealed that the tomato yields were significantly (p < 0.05) greater under the T10–T30 treatments than under the T40–T50 treatments in 2023, whereas no significant (p > 0.05) differences were observed in the fruit yields in 2024. Under the T20 treatment, the proportion of medium-sized fruit (10– < 15 g) increased, whereas the proportion of small-sized fruit increased under the T50 treatment. No significant differences were observed in total soluble solids, soluble sugars, vitamin C, lycopene, or sugar-acid ratios in either year. However, in 2023, compared with those under the T20 and T40 treatments, the organic acid content in the T50 treatment significantly decreased by 8.0% and 7.9%, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the N, P, or K indicators in 2024. However, in 2023, compared with those under the T40 and T50 treatments, the irrigation water use efficiency (WUEi) values under the T10–T30 treatments significantly increased by 16.2–26.2% (p < 0.05); compared with those under the T20 treatment, the partial factor productivities of the N, P, and K fertilizers (e.g., NPFP, PPFP, and KPFP) under the T40 and T50 treatments significantly decreased by 13.6−16.3%; and compared with those under the T30 treatment, the nutrient use efficiency of the P and K fertilizers under the T10 and T50 treatments significantly decreased by 27.0% and 24.1%, respectively. The fruit weight distribution, fruit quality, total N/P/K uptake, and water/fertilizer use efficiency significantly differed between 2023 and 2024 because of different climatic conditions (particularly temperature). On the basis of the results of a Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)-based comprehensive evaluation, the highest scores were obtained under the T20 and T40 treatments in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Therefore, the T20 treatment is recommended for cherry tomato irrigation management under climatic conditions similar to those in 2023 (the average irrigation intervals under the T10−T50 treatments ranged from 3 to 11 days). However, when higher temperatures lead to shorter irrigation intervals (such as in 2024, when the corresponding average irrigation intervals were 2−8 days), the T40 treatment is recommended for tomato irrigation management.

Effects of different water management practices on cherry tomato yield and nutrient use efficiency

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发表日期：

2026年6月26日

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Yan Li,
Qian Pan,
Zhenhao Zheng,
Haijun Liu

摘要

Optimal irrigation management practices for tomato cultivation often vary under different climatic conditions and soil types. A two-year greenhouse experiment (2023–2024) was conducted in Zhejiang, China, to assess the effects of different irrigation levels on the fruit yield, quality, and water and nutrient use efficiency. Five irrigation levels were established on the basis of soil matric potentials at 20-cm depth, namely, − 10, − 20, − 30, − 40, and − 50 kPa, which are denoted as T10, T20, T30, T40, and T50, respectively. The results revealed that the tomato yields were significantly (p < 0.05) greater under the T10–T30 treatments than under the T40–T50 treatments in 2023, whereas no significant (p > 0.05) differences were observed in the fruit yields in 2024. Under the T20 treatment, the proportion of medium-sized fruit (10– < 15 g) increased, whereas the proportion of small-sized fruit increased under the T50 treatment. No significant differences were observed in total soluble solids, soluble sugars, vitamin C, lycopene, or sugar-acid ratios in either year. However, in 2023, compared with those under the T20 and T40 treatments, the organic acid content in the T50 treatment significantly decreased by 8.0% and 7.9%, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the N, P, or K indicators in 2024. However, in 2023, compared with those under the T40 and T50 treatments, the irrigation water use efficiency (WUE_i) values under the T10–T30 treatments significantly increased by 16.2–26.2% (p < 0.05); compared with those under the T20 treatment, the partial factor productivities of the N, P, and K fertilizers (e.g., NPFP, PPFP, and KPFP) under the T40 and T50 treatments significantly decreased by 13.6−16.3%; and compared with those under the T30 treatment, the nutrient use efficiency of the P and K fertilizers under the T10 and T50 treatments significantly decreased by 27.0% and 24.1%, respectively. The fruit weight distribution, fruit quality, total N/P/K uptake, and water/fertilizer use efficiency significantly differed between 2023 and 2024 because of different climatic conditions (particularly temperature). On the basis of the results of a Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)-based comprehensive evaluation, the highest scores were obtained under the T20 and T40 treatments in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Therefore, the T20 treatment is recommended for cherry tomato irrigation management under climatic conditions similar to those in 2023 (the average irrigation intervals under the T10−T50 treatments ranged from 3 to 11 days). However, when higher temperatures lead to shorter irrigation intervals (such as in 2024, when the corresponding average irrigation intervals were 2−8 days), the T40 treatment is recommended for tomato irrigation management.