Effect of Water Limit within Rhizosphere on the Leaf Temperature Changes of Tomato Plants

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of water limit through the control of water content within rhizosphere on the leaf temperature changes of hydroponically grown tomato plant as a water stress index. As water contents treated were 30, 35, 40, 45, 50±5%, the leaf temperature was lower 0.5 to 1.1 (cid:59282) , but pericarp temperature was higher 1.8 (cid:59282)(cid:71) than air temperature in August. On second day of water limit, leaf temperature was highest at 3 pm and higher 2.8 (cid:59282)(cid:71) than air temperature. After about 60 days of water limit, leaf temperature as affected by below 40% water content was similar with or higher than air temperature. Therefore these results could be used as a water stress index, however, it would be considered that more investigation and analysis on leaf temperature changes by time passes were needed.