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Effect of Watering on Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Plant Growth

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Astija Astija at Tadulako University
Astija Astija
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Abstract

Studies on the growth of tomato plants had been intensively conducted. However, the growth that is influenced by wateringon a soil where the plants are growing is still little studied. Therefore, this study aims to determine theamount of water given to the plants and how a potential capacity of a soil absorbs water for the growth of the tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The study used Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of 4 treatments ie100% (1200 mL), 75% (900 mL), 50% (600 mL) and of 25% (300 mL) of soil field capacities. The results showed that the 50% and 25% of the field capacity affected significantly on reduction of the of tomato plant growth, suggesting that watering with 600 mL per 8 kg soil. On ther word, it is less than75 mL water per kg soil used is the worstgrowth of the plants
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International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2016): 79.57 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391
Volume 7 Issue 2, February 2018
www.ijsr.net
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
UniversitasTadulako, Kemenristekdikti, Indonesia
Abstract: Studies on the growth of tomato plants had been intensively conducted. However, the growth that is influenced by
wateringon a soil where the plants are growing is still little studied. Therefore, this study aims to determine theamount of water given to
the plants and how a potential capacity of a soil absorbs water for the growth of the tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The study
used Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of 4 treatments ie100% (1200 mL), 75% (900 mL), 50% (600 mL) and of 25%
(300 mL) of soil field capacities. The results showed that the 50% and 25% of the field capacity affected significantly on reduction of the
of tomato plant growth, suggesting that watering with 600 mL per 8 kg soil. On ther word, it is less than75 mL water per kg soil used is
the worstgrowth of the plants.
Keywords: Tomato, water, field capacity, growth
1. Introduction
Tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were included
into Solanaceae that have a short life cycle, less than a year.
The plants have green, yellow, and red fruits and of which
are used as a vegetable, fresh fruit and processed
drink(Astija, 2017). In Indonesia, the plants are widely
grown in both highland and lowland areas. However, the
productivity of tomatoes in the highlands is higher reaching
26.6 tons per ha compared to those in lowland areas
reaching only about 6 tons per ha. One reason isthat of
available water in the highlands (Etti Purwati and
Khairunisa, 2007).
Several studies reported that tomato plants will experience
death if the lack or excess water(Hasanuzzaman et al.,
2013). The water for plants is obtained from the soil by
absorption through roots to be transported by a xylem vessel
into entire cells including leaves. In the leaves, water with
carbon dioxide is used to produce sugars through
photosynthesis(De Storme and Geelen, 2014). In addition,
water is required for osmotic pressure, solvent, pH regulator,
temperature control, and other physiological processes.On
the other hand, the water will be evaporated through
transpiration through stomata to remove out water
excess(Astija, 2017).Therefore, water plays an important
rolein plants.
Deficiency of the water in plant cells can be overcome
byadditing of water into the cells. However, this process
needs to be considered so that water given is not excessive
or lack. The amount of water supplied depends highly on the
structure of the plant, the climate in which the plant grows,
and the type of soil(Sato, Peet and Thomas, 2000; De
Storme and Geelen, 2014). In particular, the type of the soil
as a medium used in the growth of a plant is of great
importance because the soil structure has the ability to
absorb and store water(Wang, Vinocur and Altman, 2003;
Little et al., 2005; Campanoni and Blatt, 2007; Wahid et al.,
2007; Niassy et al., 2010). Therefore, this ability is
important to know in order to determine how much water is
given or the water required by the plant.
Until now, studies focused on theabilityof soil in absorbing
water have not been intensively investigated. Therefore, it is
necessary to conduct a study to determine the ability of soil
used for the growth of tomato plants in absorbing water so
that it can know how much water is given to the plant when
the amount of groundwater is not sufficient.
2. Methods
The study was conducted using a Completely Randomized
Design (RAL) consisting of 4 treatments being 1200 mL
(100%), 900 mL (75%), 600 mL (50%), and 30 mL (25 %)
of field capacities. Each treatment was repeated 3 times.
This study began with the determination of field capacity by
taking the soil used in the study to be dried and weighed as
much as 8 kg as an initial weight. The soil was then put into
a polybag and placed in a bucket containing water. Further,
the polybag was lifted and kept in a closed room for 4 days
until the water no longer drips. Polybag was weighed to get
a final weight. The difference between the final weight and
the initial weight was called the field capacity value.
Furthermore, the soilwas ready for use. Seedling plants were
planted in the soil in polybags. The seedling plants were
obtained from germinating seeds. Seeding was firstly
conducted by soaking into thewater for 10-15 minutes. Good
seeds were indicated by seeds submerged in water. The
seeds were picked and sown into the soil. After germinating
and growing for 2 weeks marked by the formation of two
green leaves, the seedlings were planted into the soil. During
its growth,the plantsweretreated by water according to the
treatment types mentioned. Watering was done in the
morning. The next step was anobservation to measure plant
height in plants 20 and 40 days after planting (dap).
Measurements were by placing a ruler from ground surface
to the highest end of the stem. Other observations were a
number of leaves and of branches with counter tools.
Leavesarea wasmeasured using the Portable Laser Leaf Area
Meter. The data obtained were then analyzed using analysis
variance(ANOVA) one way assisted with XLSTAT 2017
Program.
Paper ID: ART20179933
DOI: 10.21275/ART20179933
194
Astija and Musdalifah
Effect of Watering on Tomato (Solanum
lycopersicum L.) Plant Growth
International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2016): 79.57 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391
Volume 7 Issue 2, February 2018
www.ijsr.net
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
3. Results
Determination of field capacity by using as much as 8 kg of
soil was 1.2 kg or 1.2 L water meaning that a value of the
field capacity was 1200 mL for 100%. Furthermore, to
determine 75% of the field capacity was obtained by
multiplying 1200 mL ie 900 mL. The same way, for 50%
and 25% of the field capacity were 600 mL and 300 mL,
respectively. This result illustrates that the soil used for the
growth of tomato plants has a maximal ability to absorb the
water as much as 1200 ml per 8 kg of soil or an average of
150 mL per Kg of soil. The field capacity is used as a basic
to determine a potential soil in absorbing the water and to
determine an amount of the water given as wel as the water
required by plants for the tomato plant growth. From the
results, use of 100% (1200 mL), 75% (900 mL), 50% (600
mL) and 25% (300 Ml) influence significant differences on
plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and leaf
area of tomato plants.
The observed average of tomato plantheight at 20 dap (days
after planting) and 40 dap treated by 100% or 1200 mL, 75%
or 900 ml, 50% or 600 ml and 25% or 300 ml were
completely shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Tomato plant height at 20 dap (day after planting)
and 40 dap treated with 100% (1200 mL), 75% (900 mL),
50% (600 mL) and 25% (300 mL). Hight of the plants at 20
and 40 dap was significantly reduced when the plants were
watered with 600 mL and 300 mL.
Based on the Figure above shows that tomato plant growth
varies depending on the amount of water provided. It seems
that the less an amount of water supplied, the more inhibited.
However, the amount of water 50% of the field capacity or
600 mL per 8 kg of soil significantly contributes to growth
inhibition both at the age of 20 or 40 days of cultivation.
The amount of water also affects the average of
leavesnumber from tomato plants at age 20 and 40 days after
planting. As shown in Figure 2 showed that the number of
leaves differed significantly between those treated with
100% or 1200 mL, 75% or 900 ml, 50% or 600 ml and 25%
or 300 ml.
Figure 2: Number of leaves of tomato plants at age 20 dap
and 40 dapdap treated with 100% (1200 mL), 75% (900
mL), 50% (600 mL) and 25% (300 mL). Reduction of the
leaves number at 20 and 40 dap was a line with thereduction
of the watering.
The amount of water seems to affect the growth of branches
at 20 dap and 40 dap. Figure 3 showed that the reduction in
the amount of water reduces the number of branches.
Watering with 300 mL or 25% of field capacity reduced
significantly to the number of branches.
Figure 3: Number of branches of tomato plants at age 20
dap and 40 daptreated with 100% (1200 mL), 75% (900
mL), 50% (600 mL) and 25% (300 mL). The number of
branches of the plants at 20 and 40 dap was significantly
reduced when the plants were watered with 600 mL and 300
mL.
Meanwhile, the leaf widthwas to be reduced when the
amount of the water was less than 50% of its field capacity
that were 600 mL and 300 mL (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Leaves width at age 20 dap and 40 dapdap treated
with 50% (600 mL) and 25% (300 mL) were reduced,
compared to those with 100% (1200 mL), 75% (900 mL).
4. Discussion
The results showed that growth of tomato plants decreased
at 50% and 25% of field capacity of the soil used for the
tomato plants. However, the growth of the tomato plants
increased at 75% and 100% of field capacity (Figure 1 ).
This study is similar to a studyreported by Evita (2012)that
Paper ID: ART20179933
DOI: 10.21275/ART20179933
195
International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2016): 79.57 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391
Volume 7 Issue 2, February 2018
www.ijsr.net
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
peanut plants responded to several water levels in that water
intake of 75%, 100%, and 125% of the field capacity
provided for growth and yield of the peanut weremuch
better, compared to 25% and 50% of field capacity
conditions. This study suggests that tomato plant has the
same water requirement as the peanut plant. This study is
also line with areport proposed by Islami and Utomo
(1995)that plants undergoing water stress would have a
smaller size compared to plants growing normally with
adequate watering. In addition, Arifin (2002)stated that
plants that suffer from water shortage would experience a
disruption to plant growth. Moreover, Whigham and Minor
(2008)also reported that the lack of water resulted in the
vegetative phase such asreduction of stemdiameter and
crop.The results of this study differ slightly from previous
studies as reported by Mapegau (2006) that water stress at
60% of KATT (soil water level available) of soybean Willis
Cultivar decreased significantly in hight of the plant.
The amount of groundwater can affect the number of tomato
plant leaves. This can be shown from the results of the study
conducted (Figure 2). The study observed that the number of
leaves of tomato plants decreased at the water stress level of
50% and 25% of the field capacity. However, the number of
leaves of tomato plants increased at the water stress level of
75% and 100% of the field capacity. This is an important
informationbecauseif tomato plants that experience water
shortage of 50% of field capacity,those will affect the
number of leaves that are reducing the number of leaves of
the plant.
Another interesting point of the study is that the results
illustrated that the number of branches and leaves of the
tomato plants also decreased at the water stress level of 50%
and 25% of the field capacity. However, the increasing
number of branches increased at the water stress level of
75% and 100% of the field capacity (Figure 3 and 4). This
result also suggests that lack of water up to 50% of the field
capacity, it will result in areduction of the branches and
leaves of tomato plants.The results of this study are parallel
with the results of a study reported by Mapegau (2006)that
at 40% the level showed asignificant decrease in the leaves
of Willis and TidarCultivar. of the soybean.
5. Conclusion
Based on the research results, it can be concluded that 25%
and 50% of the field capacity of the soil used by growing
tomato plants have a significant effect on the decrease of the
plant height, the number of leaves, the number of branches,
and the leaf area.
References
[1] Arifin (2002) Cekaman Air dan Kehidupan Tanaman.
Malang: Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Brawijaya.
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Elongation of Tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum L.)
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[3] Campanoni, P. and Blatt, M. R. (2007) ‘Membrane
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[4] Evita (2012) ‘Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Kacang Tanah
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[8] Mapegau (2006) ‘Pengaruh Cekaman Air terhadap
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Paper ID: ART20179933
DOI: 10.21275/ART20179933
196
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Pengaruh Cekaman Air terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Tanaman Kedelai (Glycine max L. Merr)
Article
Suatu percobaan rumah kaca untuk mengetahui pengaruh cekaman air terhadap pertumbuhan dan hasil tanaman kedelai telah dilaksanakan di kebun percobaan Fakultas Pertanian, Universitas Jambi. Percobaan faktorial dua faktor dan tiga ulangan disusun dalam rancangan acak lengkap (RAL). Faktor pertama terdiri atas dua kultivar kedelai (Willis dan Tidar) dan faktor kedua terdiri atas empat tingkat cekaman air (100, 80, 60, dan 40%) kadar air tanah tersedia (KATT). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa interaksi antara kultivar dengan tingkat cekaman air secara nyata mempengaruhi pertumbuhan dan hasil tanaman kedelai. Pertumbuhan tanaman (tinggi dan luas daun) dan hasil (biji kering) dari kedelai kultivar Willis sudah terhambat pada tingkat cekaman air 60% KATT, sedangkan kultivar Tidar penghambatan pertumbuhan dan hasil baru terjadi pada tingkat cekaman air 40% KATT. Pada tingkat cekaman air 60% KATT, kandungan protein bebas tanaman kedelai kultivar Tidar nyata lebih tinggi dari kultivar Willis. Berdasarkan pertumbuhan tanaman, hasil, dan kandungan prolin bebas dapat dikemukakan bahwa kultivar Tidar lebih toleran terhadap cekaman air dibandingkan dengan Willis.
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Membrane trafficking and polar growth in root hairs and pollen tubes
Article
  • Feb 2007
Root hairs and pollen tubes extend by rapid elongation that occurs exclusively at the tip. Fundamental for such local, tip-focused growth (so-called ‘tip growth’) is the polarization of the cytoplasm that directs secretory events to the tip, and the presence of internal gradients and transmembrane flux of ions, notably Ca2+, H+, K+, and Cl−. Electrophysiological and imaging studies using fluorescent markers have sought to link ion gradients with growth and membrane trafficking. Current models recognize membrane trafficking as fundamental to tip growth, notably its role in supplying lipid and protein to the new plasma membrane and cell wall that extend the apex of the cell, and a complementary role for endocytosis in retrieving excess membrane and in recycling various protein fractions. The current state of knowledge is reviewed here in order to highlight the major gaps in the present understanding of trafficking as it contributes to polar growth in these cells and recent results, that suggest a role for membrane trafficking in the active regulation of ion channel turnover and activity during polar tip growth, are discussed.
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Cekaman Air dan Kehid Malang: Fakultas Pertanian Univers Malang
  • Jan 2002
  • Arifin
Arifin (2002) Cekaman Air dan Kehid Malang: Fakultas Pertanian Univers Malang.