Irrigation Depth and Nitrogen Fertilization on Production and Quality of Cherry Tomatoes

Abstract

Nitrogen fertilization and water supply are determinant factors for production and physical-chemical quality of cherry tomato. The objective of this study is to evaluate the productivity and quality of cherry tomatoes, cultivar Carolina, produced under different irrigation depth and nitrogen treatments. The experiment was conducted in a protected environment in randomized blocks and a 5 × 3 factorial design with three replications. The treatments were integrated by the combination of five irrigation depth consisting of 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% of replacement of the reference evapotranspiration (ETo), and three nitrogen treatments fertilization (common urea, urea with urease inhibitor and without the application of nitrogen). The productive and qualitative characteristics of tomato fruits were evaluated. Productivity was better responsive with the 125% ETo depth. The 100% ETo depth provided the highest titratable acidity. Nitrogen treatments did not promote differences in productivity and quality of tomatoes.