Nocturnal Transpiration of Tomato under Deficit Irrigation in Greenhouse Conditions

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36253/ijam-3656

Keywords:

transpiration, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, berries' quality, berries' yield

Abstract

Nocturnal transpiration (E) can reduce water use efficiency by causing water loss during a period without photosynthetic activity. This study quantifies tomato night-time E under greenhouse conditions comparing two irrigation regimes (full irrigation – FI vs. Deficit irrigation – DI) and four fertilization treatments (raw compost vs. sieved compost vs. mineral vs. no fertilization) under greenhouse conditions, addressing a key gap in understanding potential inefficiencies in crop water use. Physiological and environmental parameters were monitored weekly from transplanting to harvesting at four different hours of each day (06:00, 12:00, 18:00, and 24:00). Fruit yield and quality were assessed at harvest to evaluate water productivity. Only irrigation significantly affected E, with FI plants exhibiting higher day-time E rates (+11-16%) than DI. Stomatal conductance varied by time but was not influenced by irrigation. Nighttime E persisted at ~12–13% of daytime rates, indicating residual stomatal opening. Under FI, E positively correlated with leaf temperature and vapor pressure deficit, while under DI, E was more influenced by environmental temperature, reflecting tighter environmental control under water stress. Neither irrigation nor fertilization significantly affected total (on average 64.1 Mg ha⁻¹) or marketable berry yield (about 77.5% of total yield). Water productivity was significantly higher under DI (+14.7%) than FI (21.5 kg m⁻³). DI also increased berry dry matter content (+6.5%) and slightly lowered fruit pH without affecting total soluble solids, titratable acidity, or electrical conductivity.

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Published

2025-11-26

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Morbidini, F., Locatelli, S., Raimondi, G., Barbera, A. C., Iurato, A., Nicoletto, C., & Maucieri, C. (2025). Nocturnal Transpiration of Tomato under Deficit Irrigation in Greenhouse Conditions. Italian Journal of Agrometeorology. https://doi.org/10.36253/ijam-3656

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Copyright (c) 2025 Francesco Morbidini, Silvia Locatelli, Giorgia Raimondi, Antonio C. Barbera, Antonella Iurato, Carlo Nicoletto, Carmelo Maucieri

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