The combined effects of salinity and water stress on the growth and yield quality of tomato

The effects of two soil salinities (1 g/kg and 6g/kg) and two water stress levels (60% and 80% of the field capacity) on growth and yield parameters of Meiguo903 tomato were investigated under greenhouse conditions. A randomized complete block design experiment with three treatments and four replications was conducted. The treatments were defined as: CK (no water stress and no salt stress), T1 (no water stress but salt stress) and T2 (water stress and salt stress). The results show that more water was applied in CK than the other treatments, but T2 saved water by about 10%. Measured growth parameters showed that water stress and salinity affected the height and stem diameter of the plants. In general, T2 had short plants with thin stems, T1 had a little taller and thin stems while CK had tall plants with thick stems. It was found that both salinity and water stress has a significant effect on total marketable yield. T1 reduced the yield by 37% while T2 conditions reduced the yield by about 43%. Comparing T1 and T2 which were subjected to the same saline conditions (but different water stress levels), there is a significant difference on the amount of water used, where T1 is the highest, but there is no significant difference on their yield. These results give the conclusion that, in a saline environment, water stress can save water and produce a yield close to that when full irrigation is applied. Nearly optimum yields can be achieved by proper water stress management in such an environment.