DESENVOLVIMENTO E PRODUÇÃO DO TOMATEIRO BRS NAGAI EM FUNÇÃO DE LÂMINAS DE IRRIGAÇÃO E DOSES DE HIDROGEL

Abstract

Suitable soil moisture is essential for the success of tomato crop, making the use of the hydrogel polymer in the soil associated with irrigation promising due to its high water retention. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the development and production of BRS Nagai tomato to irrigation blades and hydrogel doses. The experiment was conducted in 14.5 liter pots, in a greenhouse, at the Goiano Federal Institute – Campus Morrinhos. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications in 3x5 subdivided plots, being three drip irrigation blades (75%, 100% and 125% of crop evapotranspiration - ETc) and five doses of hydrogel polymer (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 g plant-1 ). The spacing was 0.4 m between plants, 0.6 m between single lines and 1.3 m between double lines. ETc was determined by weighing plants in extra pots. There was a significant effect (p <0.05) of irrigation levels for plant height at 42, 63 and 84 DAT. The hydrogel doses presented significance (p <0.01) only in the stem diameter at 63 DAT, with 4 g plant-1 of hydrogel being the best dose. The highest number of fruits with apical putridity was obtained in the irrigation depth of 75% of ETc. The lowest flower abortion rate was obtained in the 125% replenishment of ETc, leading to a higher tomato production.