Water Use by Greenhouse Tomato
Plants
Dr. Allan Matthias, Department of Soil, Water and
Environmental Science
The
transpiration of water from plant leaves into the atmosphere within a
greenhouse is affected by energy availability, convective transport of
water vapor away from the leaves, and stomatal control of water vapor
diffusion at the leaf surfaces. The relative importance of these
factors in affecting water use by greenhouse tomato plants is the focus of
a study beginning in Fall 2002. The specific objectives of this study are
to measure daily water use values by a tomato cultivar grown under
controlled micro-environmental conditions and to evaluate the magnitudes
of the radiant and convective energy sources contributing to plant water
use. This research is being done within the framework of a broader
study, led by Paula Costa, PhD student, of the effects of greenhouse
micro-environments on tomato growth and yield. Research on plant
water use will provide greenhouse managers with information about daily
and seasonal tomato plant water use patterns and should also provide input
data to models for optimizing design of controlled environment systems for
tomato production in warm, dry climates such as in
Arizona.
Cooperators: Paula Costa, ABE, Dr. Gene Giacomelli,
ABE, Dr. Chieri Kubota, PLS
Technical support: Mr. Stephen Kania,
ABE
Completed 2004 |
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