New crop coefficients developed for high-yield processing tomatoes
Processing tomato yields have increased by 53% over the past 35 years, but the current seasonal crop-evapotranspiration requirements that growers use to schedule irrigation are based on 1970s-era data. We updated this data and developed new crop coefficients for processing...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
2006-04-01
|
| Series: | California Agriculture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://calag.ucanr.edu/archive/?article=ca.v060n02p95 |
| Summary: | Processing tomato yields have increased by 53% over the past 35 years, but the current
seasonal crop-evapotranspiration requirements that growers use to schedule irrigation
are based on 1970s-era data. We updated this data and developed new crop coefficients
for processing tomatoes using the Bowen ratio energy balance method in eight commercial
fields from 2001 to 2004. Today's evapotranspiration rates are similar to those of
the early 1970s, indicating a substantial increase in water-use efficiency by processing
tomatoes during the past 35 years. In addition, we collected data in both furrow-
and drip-irrigated fields, but no statistical differences were found between them. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0008-0845 2160-8091 |