The Effects of Plastic Mulched Drip Irrigation on Yield, Fruit Quality and Water Productivity of Table Tomatoes

This study examined the effects of different irrigation levels and plastic mulching on table tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. Zahide) yield, fruit quality, and water productivity. A field experiment was conducted in western Turkey during the summer seasons of 2017 and 2018 at the Application and Research Station, University of Bilecik Seyh Edebali. The research was designed as a split-plot design with three replications. The main plots consisted of two mulch applications (mulch (M) and no mulch (NM)), and sub-plots were consisting of four drip irrigation levels (100% (IL100), 75% (IL75), 50% (IL50), and 25% (IL25) of the evaporation measured in the Class A Pan). IL100 treatment with mulch application obtained the highest marketable yields as 72.56 t ha⁻¹ in 2017 and 75.50 ha⁻¹ in 2018. Increasing irrigation water amounts decreased total soluble solids (TSS), total sugar, titratable acidity, and lycopene values. Fruit yield and fruit weight values were increased with increasing irrigation water amounts. The highest water productivity values were obtained from interaction IL25 × M in both years. Mulching increased water productivity, especially with an effect on plant water consumption. Therefore, for drip irrigation under plastic mulch, the IL100 irrigation level can be recommended under conditions where water resources are sufficient, and IL75 is recommended when insufficient.