Journal of Plant Process and Function

Deficit Irrigation (DI) is a fundamental solution for efficient water use in irrigated lands under conditions of water scarcity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential for water saving and yield improvements of two greenhouse tomato cultivar (Shaqayeq and Shahrzad) with use of three DI treatment ,50, ,75, and ,100, percent of full irrigation along with surface and subsurface drip irrigation. This study was conducted in research greenhouse of agricultural faculty, university of Kurdistan as factorial design based on randomized complete block with three replications in ,2014,. Result showed that DI regimes could affect fruit diameter, firmness, TSS, pH, acidity, C vitamin content, Carotenoids, leaf area index (LAI), total yield and water use efficiency, significantly. The highest TSS, 5.47, acidity, 0.618, percent C vitamin, 65/4, mg/Fw and Carotenoids, 65/4, mg/Fw were obtained with lowest water supply treatment, 50, percent of full irrigation. Data also showed that, 50, percent water requirement treatment in subsurface drip irrigation resulted in the most efficient use of water which was about, 23.4, and, 11.3, WUE in Shaqayeq and Shahrzad cultivars, respectively. Regarding total yield, the highest value, 29782.7 kg/ha was obtained in Shaqayeq tomato cultivar using, 50, percent use of water requirement and subsurface drip irrigation. In total, it can be concluded that deficient irrigation resulted in reducing vegetative parameters while fruit quality parameters have been improved.