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Effect Of Irrigation On Processing Tomato Yield And Antioxidant Components, Lajos Helyes, Andrea Lugasi, Zoltán Pék

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

A 2-year (2007 and 2008) open-field experiment was conducted to study the effects of irrigation on the yield parameters and main antioxidant components (lycopene, phenolic compounds, and ascorbic acid) of processing tomato. Two different treatments were applied: some plants were regularly irrigated, and some had their irrigation cut off 30 days before harvest. Both groups were compared with a rainfed control. Daily irrigation volume was calculated from the average daily temperature to reach optimum water supply. Fruits were harvested at the red-ripe maturity stage. The irrigated plants gave a significantly higher yield, and rainfed plants showed a yield loss. Irrigation …