Effect of Partial Rootzone Drying (PRD) on growth, Water Use Efficiency (WUE) and yield of tomatoes grown in soilless culture

• Main Authors: Ali, Hassan Ibrahim, Ismail, Mohd Razi, Mohd Saud, Halimi, Manan, Mohd Mokhtaruddin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2004
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3523/1/Effect_of_Partial_Rootzone_Drying_%28PRD%29_on_Growth%2C_Water_Use_Efficiency.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3523/; http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JTAS%20Vol.%2027%20(2)%20Sep.%202004/08%20JTAS%20Vol.27%20(2)%202004%20(Pg%20143-149).pdf

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 (3:2 respectively) amended with 30% rice straw compost. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv Red Rock) plants were exposed to two different water treatments, which was either well-watered (control) or partially irrigated on half of the roots (PRD). Reduction in water availability in the media with PRD treatment caused a significant decrease in leaf expansion, leaf area and stomatal conductance. Proline was significantly increase with PRD. There was no significant reduction in dry matter partitioning and yield between well-watered and PRD-treated plants. Water use efficiency also was significantly increased with PRD.