Irrigation of Field Tomatoes and Measurement of Soil Water Changes by Neutron Moderation Methods1

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Abstract
Irrigation studies with processing tomato, Lycopersicon esculentumy cv. VF-145-21-4, showed a highly significant yield increase with increased soil moisture. Total number of fruit (fruit set) was not significantly different with irrigation treatments. Yield differences were largely attributed to small ripe and green fruit, unacceptable for processing, that resulted from soil moisture stress in drier treatments. Soil water volume changes between irrigations were measured in the soil profile using neutron moderation equipment. The total volume of water measured during the season was compared to that applied for each irrigation treatment. With exception of the wet treatment in 1971, agreement between comparisons was within ± 3%. Root growth with depth plotted as a function of time (season) was essentially the same for all irrigation treatments.

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