Effects of Water Stress on Growth and Yield of Field-Grown Tomatoes. II: Biomass Partitioning between Vegetative and Reproductive Growth

Abstract

Much work has been done in attempts to understand crop water requirements during different phenological stages with a view to increasing crop yields under conditions of rainfall limitation. Many of these studies have been based on the hypothesis that moisture availability at certain phenological stages is critical to crop yield (Salter and Good, 1967). Identification of such stages would allow selective water application thus economizing on water and reducing irrigation OASIS whilst minimizing yield losses. In rained agriculture, timing of planting would be adjusted so that the critical phases would not occur during periods of drought.