Abstract

The mineral fertilizing and the supply of water seem to influence the content of lycopene in the fruits of tomato, thus it is crucial to elucidate the ideal levels of fertilizers and the adequate management of irrigation for this crop. Hence, the study had an objective to evaluate the efficiency of different levels of mineral fertilizing and the effect of irrigation management on the productivity as well as on the lycopene content in the fruits of tomato. For this, two experiments in Winter/Spring and Summer/Autumn were carried out. The treatments consisted of the combination of different levels of mineral fertilizersing with nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium along with two levels of irrigation. The productivity of fruits, the production of large fruits, the lycopene content, and the efficiency in the use of nutrients, were evaluated. With the application of 120% of the recommended dose of fertilizing, the productivity of large fruits was maximum. The efficiency in the use of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium was maximum with the application of 120, 121 and 50% of the recommended dose of fertilizing, respectively, and 100% of the irrigation depth. The maximum content of lycopene was obtained, by applying 200% of the fertilizing dose and 50% of the irrigation depth. The best combination for the production of large fruits, higher lycopene content, and higher efficiency in the use of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, was the application of 120% of the dosage of fertilizing and 100% of the irrigation depth.

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