Development and Nutrient Uptake by Physalis under Different Soil Water Tensions

The water deficit generated by inadequate management of irrigation can affect the development and yield of crops. However, little is known about irrigation and irrigation management for physalis (Physalis peruviana L.). The objective of this work was to study different soil water tensions as an indicative for irrigation management in physalis crop and to evaluate its effects on crop development and yield, nutrient uptake, and soil chemical attributes. The experiment was conducted in field condition, soil Typic Quartzipsamment. A randomized block design with four soil water tensions (10, 20, 30, and 40 kPa) was used with four blocks and two replications of treatments per block. In order to monitor the soil water tensions, tensiometers were installed at a depth of 0.20 m. Increased soil water tension led to reduced growth and fruit productivity of physalis. Leaf concentrations of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) increased, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), boron (B), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) reduced, and phosphorus (P) and copper (Cu), were not influenced by increased soil water tension. Values of soil pH, P, K, Ca and Mg and base saturation increased, while exchangeable aluminum (Al) and Al saturation decreased with increases in soil water tensions. The highest development and nutrient uptake of the physalis crop were under soil water tension of 10 kPa at 0.20 m deep. It was concluded that, for the evaluated soil, the irrigation management recommended for conducting the physalis crop is with the soil moisture close to the field capacity.