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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research

Irrigation techniques and their impact on tomato yield and soil salinity

Mahmoud Ahmed Hashim

Abstract

Tomato is considered as the most popular vegetable crop in the Gulf region. In Qatar, tomato yield is low, being 30 tons/ha on average and the total production (11370 tons) represents a self-sufficiency level of only 57.4%.
This study examined the salt tolerance rating of tomato crop by adoption of modern irrigation techniques and improved cultural practices that increase tomato yield under saline and arid conditions.
Water and soil classifications and their suitability for irrigation, yield potential and predicted salt tolerance of tomato crop were obtained from experiments performed in greenhouses under controlled conditions. This experiment was conducted at Rodhat al Faras Farm in Qatar during 1998/1999 season, using saline irrigation water (electrical conductivity = 4.3 dS/m) and salt-affected soil. The experiment, performed under improved cultural practices, examined the effect of irrigation methods, leaching requirements and crop varieties on tomato yield.
The results revealed that tomato can be re-rated as moderately tolerant to salts, instead of the old conventional rating of moderately sensitive. Adoption of the techniques used in this study could raise the average yield of tomato from 30 to 69
tons/ha and contribute to conserving water and land resources.


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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 5 (2005) PP. 43-49