Dynamic Water and Fertilizer Management Strategy for Greenhouse Tomato Based on Morphological Characteristics

Zhiyu Zuo (), Tianyuan Lü, Jicheng Sun, Haitao Peng, Deyong Yang, Jinxiu Song, Guoxin Ma and Hanping Mao
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Zhiyu Zuo: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Tianyuan Lü: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Jicheng Sun: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Haitao Peng: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Deyong Yang: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Jinxiu Song: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Guoxin Ma: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Hanping Mao: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-23

Abstract: A dynamic management strategy for water and fertilizer application based on morphological characteristics was developed to enhance water use efficiency (WUE) and fruit yield in greenhouse-cultivated tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.). Multivariate regression analysis was employed to determine the baseline water and fertilizer requirements and to evaluate the effects of varying irrigation and fertilization regimes on fruit yield and WUE. A coupled irrigation–fertilization experiment was conducted, and regression models were established to describe the changes in stem diameter and plant height under these regimes. These models were validated experimentally. The results showed that irrigation significantly influenced both tomato fruit yield and WUE, while fertilization significantly impacted yield, but not WUE. No interactive effects between irrigation and fertilization were observed for either parameter. Stem diameter and plant height were positively correlated with the irrigation and fertilization levels. The proposed dynamic management strategy improved fruit yield by 6.9% and 14.7% under the basic and well-irrigated/fertilized conditions, respectively, compared to that of the fixed regime. Furthermore, model implementation increased WUE by 6.93% and 43.17% and improved the economic benefits by 4.9% and 20.6% under the respective conditions. This provides a practical and effective tool for optimizing water and fertilizer management in greenhouse tomato production, contributing to resource-efficient and high-yield farming practices.

Keywords: irrigation; fertilization; water use efficiency; stem diameter; plant height; yield optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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