Abstract:
This experiment aimed to determine evapotranspirati
on, and responses of some yield
and quality parameters of subsurface drip irrigated
broccoli (
Brassica oleraceae
L.).
Treatments included water application when availabl
e soil moistures were depleted 30,
40, and 50%
during both spring and autumn cultivations. Under
a semi-arid climatic
condition of Tokat, Turkey, the experiment was carr
ied out with a randomized complete
block design in clay and clay loam soils during, re
spectively, 2011 and 2012. The mean
measured soil-water depletion levels of 39, 49, and
59%
(irrigation treatments) yielded
statistically significant results among the seasona
l actual evapotranspirations with a range
from 210 to 294 mm. The determined crop coefficient
s (Kc) during the initial growth
stage of broccoli for the autumn cultivations did n
ot follow those of standard
recommendations. Furthermore, we could not find any
statistically significant difference
in the yield and quality components among the irrig
ation treatments, but among the
cultivation seasons.
Keywords:
Crop coefficient, Modified Penman equation, Vitamin
C, Water use efficiency.
