Effect of Partial Rootzone Drying Irrigation on Growth and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

A field study was conducted during summer 2023 at the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Dediapada (Narmada, Gujarat, India) to evaluate tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) responses to fixed Partial Root-zone Drying (PRD) under drip irrigation. Four irrigation treatments were compared in a randomized block design: T1 (100% ETc delivered to one side of the root zone), T2 (75% ETc to one side), T3 (50% ETc to one side), and T4 (full irrigation to both sides; control). T1 produced the greatest vegetative growth—plant height (54.20 cm), stem diameter (2.12 cm), branch number (22.0), leaf number (111.2), and leaf area (11.40 cm²)—significantly exceeding T2 and T3 and remaining statistically on par with T4. Soil moisture was highest in T4, followed by T1, and lowest in T3. For yield and fruit attributes, T1 achieved the highest marketable yield (9,258 kg ha⁻¹) and a favorable fruit diameter (8.42 cm), whereas T4 recorded the highest total soluble solids (4.88%). Severe restriction (T3) depressed both growth and yield. Overall, fixed PRD at 100% ETc on one side (T1) offered the best balance between high yield and acceptable fruit quality under semi-arid conditions, while moderate restriction (T2) warrants consideration only where some yield trade-off is acceptable; severe restriction (T3) is not advisable. These findings support PRD as a pragmatic irrigation option for tomato in water-limited environments.