Deficit Irrigation with Ascophyllum nodosum Extract Application as a Strategy to Increase Tomato Yield and Quality

Abstract

Deficit irrigation is applied to several agricultural crops as a water-saving irrigation strategy. The tomato plant is sensitive to water stress; however, integration with biostimulant applications, based on seaweed extracts, could be a strategy for plants adapting to this abiotic condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate agronomic and quality aspects of tomato cultivated under deficit irrigation combined with Ascophyllum nodosum extract (ANE) application. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with two water replacement levels, 70 and 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and five doses of ANE (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4%) applied via soil drench. The interaction between ANE and ETc was significant (p < 0.05) in terms of plant growth, physiological parameters, fruit yield, yield components and fruit quality. Results indicated that when the tomato plant is under deficit irrigation, a higher ANE dose is required to achieve better development when compared to the 100% ETc condition, where the dose is lower. Under deficit irrigation, the largest fruit yield was obtained with 0.3 and 0.4% ANE, and with 100% ETc, the largest fruit yield was obtained with 0.2% ANE. ANE applications were also effective in increasing plant height, stem diameter, plant biomass, leaf area, chlorophyll and relative water content. In addition, tomato quality was also favored under deficit irrigation and seaweed extract application. We conclude that ANE applications attenuate water deficit effects in tomato plants and provide a strategy to ameliorate tomato yield, tomato quality and water use in agriculture.