Deficit irrigation effects on cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. Skywalker F1) yield under unheated greenhouse conditions.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of deficit irrigation on yield of cauliflower grown under unheated greenhouse conditions. The research was carried out at the Agricultural Research Station of Yenisehir Vocational School of Bursa Uludag University in Bursa, Turkey, in 2008 and 2009. In the study, water was applied to cauliflower as 1.00, 0.75, 0.50, 0.25 and 0.00 % (as control) of evaporation from a Class A Pan corresponding to 2 day irrigation frequency. Irrigation water applied ranged from 70-530 mm to 70-528 mm, and water consumption ranged from 90-548 mm to 90-540 mm. The effect of irrigation water level on the yield, head height, head diameter, head weight and dry matter were found to be significant. The highest yield were 30.4-28.8 t ha(-1). Crop yield response factors for cauliflower (k(y)) were found as 0.90 and 0.93 for both years. The highest values of water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) for 2008 and 2009 years of K2(cp) treatment were calculated to be 0.069 kg m(-3) - 0.064 kg m(-3) and 0,067 - 0,064 kg m(-3), respectively. K2(cp) application (75%) can be recommended as the most effective irrigation level for the cauliflower to which drip irrigation is applied under scarce and unheated greenhouse conditions.