Effects Of Aerated Irrigation On Growth Of Tomato

Oxygen is the most important raw materials for crop root aerobic respiration. Only toensure the normal root respiration, root growth may be promoted, water and nutrients uptakewould be protected, and the normal growth of the aerial plants also would be ensured, so thatcrop yield and quality would be improved.This test aerated into the tomato rhizosphere soil used the air compressor, to exploreeffects of aerated irrigation on the growth of tomato and in order to seek the most appropriateaeration and aerated timing on the growth of tomato.In2010, this test first set5different aeration level (the aeration coefficients arerespectively0.4,0.8,1.2,1.6, and0) and2water levels (low water, high water) to research theeffects of different levels of air and water mix on growth of tomato.Then in2011, test set5aerated timings (1st,2nd,3rd,4thand the whole growth stage) and2water levels (low water, high water); meanwhile non-aerated water as a control. Effects ofaerated irrigation timing on tomato growth, physiological indicators, yield, and water useefficiency and quality of fruit are studied. The results show that the tomato plant height, stemdiameter, leaf area index, root vigor, yield, water use efficiency and fruit quality can besignificantly increased when aeration in2ndor3rdgrowth stage. The major conclusions of thisresearch are as follows:(1) The test shows that, the aeration coefficients of0.8¹.2could process tomatogrowth; enhance root activity and improve yield and quality.(2) Tomato plant height and stem diameter, number of leaf area index and leaf havedifferent effects in different aerated irrigation timing. The growth of tomato was better whenaerated in2ndor3rdgrowth stage. Tomato leaf area index and leaf number higher aerated thewhole growth stage. It showed that aeration had certain cumulative effects on crop growth.(3) Compared with the control, tomato root growth strong under aerated irrigation. Rootdry weight and root to shoot also has significantly improved. At the end of the4thstage, thetreatment of high-water level and aerated in the3rdstage has the biggest root activity (9.627mg·g^-1·h^-1), and improved40.42%compared the control; the treatment of low water level andaerated in the3rdstage (9.368mg·g^-1·h^-1) followed, and improved39.97%compared with thecontrol. The result showed that ventilation could significantly increase root vigor of tomato, aerated in3rdgrowth stage was better.(4) The treatment of high water level and aerated in the3rdstage has the highest yield ofper plant, increasing12.11%compared with the control; the treatment of low water level andaerated in the3rdstage is followed, but it has the largest water use efficiency, its single plantyield and water use efficiency, respectively, increased14.99%and15.40%compared with thecontrol. It implied that treatment of low water level and aerated in the3rdstage could obtain ahigher yield. That treatment will be suitable for application in practice.(5) The fruit diameter of longitudinal to transverse is approximately1.27and fruit iscircles in aerated irrigation. The hardness of fruit is also larger in aerated irrigation than thecontrol. It showed that the aerated fruit could be suitable for storage and transportation. Thetreatment of high water level and aerated in the2ndstage can increase soluble solids content(21%) compared with the control; the treatment also had the highest sugar to acid, andimproved54.96%than the control. The treatment of high water level and aerated in the3rdstage has the highest Vc content, and improved66.81%compared with the control. Inaddition, the treatments of low water level and aerated in2ndand3rdstage also had highersoluble solids, sugar acid ratio and Vc content.In General, aerated in2nd,3rdstage and the whole stage can promote growth of tomato,increase their yield and quality under two levels of irrigation. Comprehensive comparisonanalysis, we approved that the treatment of lower water level and aerated in the3rdstage andaeration coefficient0.8would be more appropriate in production practices.