Effect of Water Quality and Deficit Irrigation on Tomatoes Yield and Quality: A Review

Dejene Tadesse Banjaw, Habtamu

Abstract

Tomato is one of the vegetable crops of worldwide demand because of its various purposes including nutritional and medicinal values. It produced in Ethiopia largely for domestic consumption by small scale farmers and private producers. Tomato production and productivity affected by biotic and abiotic factors. Water quality and deficit irrigation has been considered as factor in its production, yield and quality as reported by many authors worldwide. Salinity, toxicity of heavy metals, temperature, microorganisms and presence of organic matters are some concern of water quality that influence tomato yield and quality. Use of municipal waste water for irrigation enhances toxic elements that further affect human health and several reports indicated that industrial waste water has to be treated before using for irrigation. Irrigation management practices such as amount, time of application and frequency of water affect tomatoes yield and quality. Deficit irrigation with its several advantages affects negatively tomato yield but it increases fruit quality. Hence, based on reports of scientific findings, effects of these two factors reviewed in this paper for further information provision.

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