Effects of Root Zone Restriction on Growth and Yield of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.)

This study was carried out in order to determine the effects of the restriction of root zone on the growth and yield of tomato plant. in the study, on the date of 14.05.2015, perge tomato variety were planted in a pot with a pot of 3 different sizes (s1: 11, s2: 16.5 and s3: 32 liters). the study was conducted in randomized in 3 replications according to a 3-factor trial design. seedlings were planted in 15 pots including repetitions for each treatment. the research has been included in twelve treatments.1-i_1s_1n_1, 2-i_1s_2n_1, 3-i_1s_3n_1, 4-i_2s_1n_1, 5-i_2s_2n_1, 6-i_2s_3n_1,7-i_1s_1n_2, 8-i_1s_2n_2, 9-i_1s-3n_2, 10-i_2s_1n_2, 11-i_2s_2n_2, 12-i_2s_3n_2 (i: irrigation levels; s: pot size, n: fertilizer application level). i1: water application to all pots, taking into account the water decrease in the smallest pot, i_2: irrigation application according to water decrease considering the size of the pots; n_1: application of the amount of fertilizer applied for the smallest pot volume to all pots in both irrigation programs, n_2: treatments including fertilizer application considering the pot size were consisted. irrigation water was applied by drip irrigation system and two different programs. in the first program, taking into account the water decrease in the smallest pot (11 liters), once water available in the soil before irrigation decreased to approximately 60% and equal amount of water was applied to all the pots until it reached the field capacity. in the second program, water was applied up to field capacity to each of the 16.5 and 32 liter pots, taking into account the existing water loss. the study was conducted in randomized in 3 replications according to a 3-factor trial design. in the study, root restraint applications achieved both high yields and significant savings from irrigation water. as a result, in similar conditions, it can be said that 11 liters of soil volume per plant will be sufficient and irrigation applied (i_1s_1) will be appropriate when the available water drops to about 60%.