Soil water tensions and potassium fertilization in cherry tomato cultivation

Abstract

The aimed to evaluate the accumulated water consumption, growth characteristics, chlorophyll index, soil pH and the productive characteristics of cherry tomatoes cultivated in pots under soil water tensions and potassium doses in a protected environment. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in pots of 12 dm³ soil, in a dystrophic Oxisol. The experimental design was in randomized blocks in a 5² fractioned factorial arrangement, with five water availabilities in the soil (4, 14, 24, 34 and 44 kPa) and five potassium doses (0, 125, 250, 375 and 500 mg dm^-3) with four blocks. The accumulated water consumption indicates that the greatest water restrictions growing and development were for soil water tensions of 44 and 34 kPa. The soil water tension in the around 22 kPa provided greater growth in the flowering stage. The potassium fertilization in the dose of 500 mg dm^-1 were observed the largest masses of roots, leaves and stems. The highest dry mass of cherry tomato fruits occurs in the soil water tension of 28 kPa and in the potassium dose of 284 mg dm^-3. Deficiency and excess potassium in the soil reduced fruit production, as well as the deficit and excess water in the soil.