Production of irrigated cherry tomatoes in economical planting beds with mulching

ABSTRACT Technologies that improve water use efficiency (WUE) and increase crop yields are essential for the development of a responsible and productive agriculture. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate economical planting beds with the use of mulching and application of different irrigation water depths as a water-saving technology, and determine the irrigation water depth that promote the optimal plant development and fruit yield and quality of two cherry tomato cultivars. The experiment was conducted at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, PE, Brazil. A randomized block experimental design with split-plots (5×2) was used, with plots consisting of five irrigation water depths (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and 125% of the crop evapotranspiration - ETc) and subplots consisting of two cherry tomato cultivars (Carolina and Yubi), with four replications, totaling 40 experimental units. The development of tomato plants was evaluated through biometric measurements of stem diameter, plant height, and canopy area. Additionally, the following variables were evaluated during fruit harvest: number of fruits, mean fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit yield, WUE, titratable acidity, pH, and soluble solids content. The economical planting beds promoted increases in WUE. Irrigation water depths lower than 100% of ETc resulted in better plant development and higher fruit yield, number of fruits, and WUE for the evaluated cherry tomato plants. The cultivar Carolina exhibited higher production performance compared to Yubi.