THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT IRRIGATION LEVELS AND MULCH APPLICATION ON SOME QUALITY CRITERIA IN TABLE TOMATOES (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM MILL.)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to measure the response of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) grown in open field to mulch and different irrigation levels. This study was carried out in Bilecik, Turkey in the growing season of 2017 and 2018. The research was designed as a split plot design with 3 replications. The treatments consist of two mulch [black nylon mulch (M) and no mulch (NM)] and four irrigation levels of pan evaporation (Epan) replenishment [1.00xEpan (I100), 0.75 x Epan (I-75), 0.50xEpan (I-50), 0.25xEpan (I-25)]. As a result of the research, irrigation water level and mulch application was found to have significant effects on some quality criteria. The study shows that pH, fruit puncture resistance, fruit diameter, fruit length and total soluble solids/titration acidity ratio increased with increasing amount of irrigation water. As irrigation water level in mulch application increased, fruit diameter, weight, pH and fruit puncture resistance values increased. Mulch application yielded better results than application without mulch irrespective of irrigation levels.