Tomato is a water demanding crop, however water is a limited resource in the semiarid region, needing a suitable management which provides higher yield and better utilization of water resources. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of replenishment levels of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) on production of tomato 'IPA Caline 6' grown in greenhouse. The experiment was carried out at experimental area at the State University of Paraíba. Five replenishment rates of crop water consumption (33, 66, 100, 133 and 166%) were studied in a completely randomized experimental design with eight replications each consisting of two plants. Productive characteristics and water use efficiency in tomato plants were evaluated in this research. The transverse and longitudinal diameter and fruit mass improved linearly with increase in the replenishment rates of ETc. The number of flowers, number of aborted flowers, number of fruits per plant, productivity and water use efficiency were higher when plants were irrigated with replenishment rates between 100 and 133% of crop water consumption. The tomato cultivar IPA Caline 6 can be grown in greenhouse with water levels between 100 and 133% of ETc.
Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.; water consumption; water use efficiency
