Limited water supply under drip irrigation: an experience on Tomato in central Italy

Field experience on Tomato was carried out in Central Italy according to drip deficit irrigation during the growing season 2001, after a five year research on sprinkler deficit irrigation was completed on the same crop. With respect to the previous experience, marketable production was generally equal to or lower than that allowed by the same amount of water supplied by sprinkling. From the qualitative standpoint the characteristics of the production were lower than expected under limited water supplies. First results indicate that great attention must be paid to deficit management when irrigation water is applied by drip irrigation.