Effects of Rice Husk Compost on Some Soil Properties, Water Use Efficiency and Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Yield under Greenhouse and Field Conditions

The effect of rice husk compost (RHC) on evapotranspiration (ETa), yield (Y) and water use efficiency (WUE) of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plant under the field and greenhouse conditions was investigated. In the experiments carried out at the experimental field and the greenhouse of Agricultural Faculty in Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. The RHC was applied to surface soil (0-20 cm) at 0%, 3%, 6% and 9% (0 - 6 - 12 - 18 Mg ha(-1)) doses with three replications according to the randomized plots experimental design. RHC application generally improved the soil quality parameters according to the control treatment during the experiment carried out with growing tomato plant in the field and greenhouse conditions. RHC treatments increased electrical conductivity, field capacity and permanent wilting point, available water content with increasing soil organic matter content, reduced soil pH and bulk density (Db) over the control treatment. Db values of the soils in the field and greenhouse decreased according to the control treatment with 3% > 6% > 9% doses of RHC. Field capacity, permanent wilting point and available water capacity (AWC) values of the soils generally increased according to the control with 9% > 6% > 3% doses of RHC application. While 92-day ETa values in field ranged from 426 mm in control to 314 mm in 9% RHC application, 112-day ETa values in greenhouse ranged from 547 mm in control to 375 mm in 3% RHC application. According to the control treatment, the highest reduction in ETa values was 26.3% with 9% RHC in the field and 31.5% with 3% RHC application in the greenhouse. Soil organic matter values of the soils had significant correlations with Db (-0.868**), AWC (0.667*), yield (0.593*) and WUE (0.722**) in the greenhouse conditions and with Db (-0.628**), AWC (0.427*), yield (0.468*) in the field conditions. While there were negative relationships between WUE and ETa in field (-0.818**) and greenhouse (-0.365) conditions, the positive relationships between yield and WUE were determined in field (0.280) and greenhouse (0.887**). When comparing the control treatments, RHC applications in field and greenhouse conditions helped to water saving as 118 mm (1181 ton ha(-1)) and 216 mm (2160 ton ha(-1)), respectively. According to the results, the applications of 6% RHC in field and 9% RHC in greenhouse conditions were suggested to reduce ETa values, and to improve the soil quality parameters, WUE and tomato yield.