Effect of partial rootzone drying (PRD) on growth, water use efficiency (WUE) and yield of tomatoes grown in soilless culture

Hassan Ibrahim Ali; Mohd Razi Ismail; Halimi Mohd Saud; Mohd Mokhtaruddin Manan

Effect of partial rootzone drying (PRD) on growth, water use efficiency (WUE) and yield of tomatoes grown in soilless culture

2004

Hassan Ibrahim Ali | Mohd Razi Ismail | Halimi Mohd Saud | Mohd Mokhtaruddin Manan

An investigation was carried out at the Department of Crop Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to examine the effect of PRD using soilless media, a mixture of 70% coconut coir dust and peat (3:2respectively) amended with 30% rice straw compost Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv Red Rock) plants were exposed to two differentwater treatments, which was either well-watered (control) or partially irrigated on half of the roots (PRD). Reductionin water availability in the media with PRD treatment causeda significant decrease in leaf expansion, leaf area andstomatal conductance. Proline was significantly increasewith PRD. There was no significant reduction in dry matterpartitioning and yield between well-watered andPRD-treated plants. Water use efficiency also was significantlyincreased with PRD.

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