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Tomatoes

Precision Irrigation for processing tomatoes

The quality of processing tomatoes is all about Brix - the percentage of solids present in the juice of the tomato. A higher Brix level is important for the quality of the crop and its flavor or sweetness. Many factors influence Brix, but water management is key to attaining high yields and Brix.

Drip irrigation for processing tomatoes

Why choose precision irrigation for your avocado?

  • Be in charge of your Brix
    Precision irrigation means you have the best control of your irrigation regime and can induce water stress as the fruit ripens. This drives sugars to the fruit, resulting in higher Brix levels.
  • Eliminate moisture stress
    Eliminating moisture stress during the flowering and fruit setting stage ensures maximum yield. Drip irrigation is the only method to water the plant root zone frequently, enabling stress-free moisture conditions to be maintained.
  • Balance vegetative growth and productiveness
    It is important to maintain the balance between vegetative growth and productiveness.  Precision irrigation provides both the control and the flexibility to ensure crops receive the exact amount of water and fertilizer they need.
FAQs
FAQs

Things we often get asked:

  • What yield can I expect with precision irrigation? 

    A good, commercial yield of tomatoes with subsurface drip irrigation and best management practices (BMP), would produce between 120 to 180 tons/ha. Other irrigation methods would yield between 80to 100 tons/ha.

  • How much water can I save by switching to drip irrigation? 

    When compared to flood irrigation, you can save up to 30% of water and increase yields by more than 30%. For example, in California, USA studies have shown an increase in yield from 82ton/ha to 104 ton/ha while using less water.

  • Can drip irrigation reduce input costs when compared to other irrigation methods?

    Yes!Drip irrigation requires less labor than flood or sprinkler irrigation systems.  Flood irrigation and sprinklers both require someone in the field to operate the irrigation process. Precision irrigation systems are operated by pressing a button on your PC, or via your cell phone.

  • How much water should I use?

    The amount of water is calculated by both the ETo (evapotranspiration) climate conditions and by the crop phenological stage expressed by the Kc factor (crop coefficient).
    The amount of irrigation (mm/day) = ETo * Kc. So, for example, if your ETo is 5.5 (mm/day) and your crop correlates to an 0.38 crop coefficient, you should irrigate: 5.5 * 0.38 = 2.09 mm/day.

  • Why should I choose drip rather than other irrigation methods that seem to be less expensive?

    It’s not about cost, it’s about making the best investment. It’s been proven that drip irrigation increases processing tomatoes yield, while also improving Brix. In addition, drip technology leads to significant savings in water, fertilizer and labor. Economic calculations show that in the long run, drip is the most sustainable system for processing tomatoes production, delivering higher economic returns than any other method.

  • What are the advantages of drip irrigation over furrow irrigation?

    Drip irrigation takes place throughout the entire crop cycle, as and when needed. This ensures that there are no water shortages, or stress to the crops. Furrow irrigation occurs once every 10-14 days which creates accumulated water stress in the plant.
    Another benefit of drip irrigation is the ability to deliver fertilizers via the drip system. This ensures your crops will receive the right amount of fertilizer (based on the plant’s phenological development) at the right time. In comparison, furrow irrigation limits application timing, making it less effective and accurate.

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INTERESTED IN HIGHER BRIX AND GREATER YIELDS WITH PRECISION IRRIGATION?

INTERESTED IN HIGHER BRIX AND GREATER YIELDS WITH PRECISION IRRIGATION?

Let’s find the best solution for your tomatoes.

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