Processing tomatoes crop response to drip spacing (10 cm and 30 cm) and planting systems (single- and double-row planting, and a lone drip line) was evaluated in Brasília, DF, Brazil. A control treatment with single-row planting system was sprinkle irrigated. Marketable yield for 10-cm drip spacing was 10% higher than for 30 cm. Yield from drip single-row treatments was 9% higher than from double-row ones. Yield from sprinkle irrigated plots did not differ from the 30-cm drip spacing and double-row treatment, but was at least 15% lower than from other treatments. Rotten fruit rates were not affected by drip spacing factor, but were higher in double-row treatments. In the control treatment, rotten fruit occurrence was at least 68% higher than in the drip treatments. Greater economic efficiency was obtained for the 10-cm drip spacing and single row system treatment (12.7%), followed by drip spacing of 10 cm and double-row planting (7.5%). The revenue rates for those treatments were 1.42 and 1.39, respectively.
Lycopersicon esculentum; irrigation; trickle; row spacing; sprinkle
