IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v308y2025ics0378377425000319.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller) yield and quality in arid regions through micro-nano aerated drip irrigation coupled with humic acid application

Author

Listed:
  • Ma, Jiaying
  • Chen, Rui
  • Wen, Yue
  • Zhang, Jinzhu
  • Yin, Feihu
  • Javed, Tehseen
  • Zheng, Jiliang
  • Wang, Zhenhua

Abstract

The long-term, extensive use of mulched drip irrigation has effectively mitigated water scarcity. However, it has led to reduced soil aeration, with a negative impact on crop growth and yield. Our study aims to tackle this issue by investigating the arid region of Northwest China, focusing on how humic acid (HA)-based water-fertilizer-gas coupled drip irrigation influences soil aeration, as well as the yield and quality of processing tomatoes. The experiment involved two irrigation amounts (W1:450 mm, W2:380 mm), three HA application rates (H1: 0 %, H2: 0.25 %, H3: 0.5 %), and two aeration methods (A1: non-aerated, A2: micro-nano aerated). The finding of the study revealed that compared to the conventional treatment (W1H1A1), the synergistic application of 0.5 % HA combined with micro-nano aeration significantly improved both the yield and quality (vitamin C, soluble sugars, lycopene, and soluble solids, increased by 102.97 %, 38.95 %, 104.69 %, and 21.16 %, respectively) of processing tomatoes under low irrigation stress (380 mm) in the first year. Although the effect diminished under two years of low water irrigation, the treatment maintained a high yield (147.96 t ha–1). SEM analysis revealed that coupled water-fertilizer-gas drip irrigation directly enhanced soil oxygen content while negatively affecting soil water-filled porosity and evapotranspiration, thus indirectly influencing the growth, yield, and quality of processing tomatoes. Multiple regression and spatial analysis of yield, water use efficiency, and lycopene content indicated that, under micro-nano aeration, irrigation volumes between 445.700–446.833 mm, combined with 0.492–0.498 % HA, represent optimal irrigation strategies. These conditions ensured that yield (278.03–281.21 t ha–1), WUE (0.57–0.58 t ha–1 mm–1), lycopene content (56.28–56.76 mg kg–1), and Vc content (56.06–56.19 mg 100 g–1) remained above 95 % of their maximum values.

Suggested Citation

  • Ma, Jiaying & Chen, Rui & Wen, Yue & Zhang, Jinzhu & Yin, Feihu & Javed, Tehseen & Zheng, Jiliang & Wang, Zhenhua, 2025. "Processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller) yield and quality in arid regions through micro-nano aerated drip irrigation coupled with humic acid application," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:308:y:2025:i:c:s0378377425000319
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109317
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425000319
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109317?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ayars, J. E. & Phene, C. J. & Hutmacher, R. B. & Davis, K. R. & Schoneman, R. A. & Vail, S. S. & Mead, R. M., 1999. "Subsurface drip irrigation of row crops: a review of 15 years of research at the Water Management Research Laboratory," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 1-27, September.
    2. Cantore, V. & Lechkar, O. & Karabulut, E. & Sellami, M.H. & Albrizio, R. & Boari, F. & Stellacci, A.M. & Todorovic, M., 2016. "Combined effect of deficit irrigation and strobilurin application on yield, fruit quality and water use efficiency of “cherry” tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 53-61.
    3. Wang, Tianyu & Wang, Zhenhua & Zhang, Jinzhu & Ma, Kai, 2023. "Application effect of different oxygenation methods with mulched drip irrigation system in Xinjiang," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    4. Wang, Chenxia & Gu, Feng & Chen, Jinliang & Yang, Hui & Jiang, Jingjing & Du, Taisheng & Zhang, Jianhua, 2015. "Assessing the response of yield and comprehensive fruit quality of tomato grown in greenhouse to deficit irrigation and nitrogen application strategies," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 9-19.
    5. Sun, Yanan & Duan, Linbo & Zhong, Huayu & Cai, Huanjie & Xu, Jiatun & Li, Zhijun, 2024. "Effects of irrigation-fertilization-aeration coupling on yield and quality of greenhouse tomatoes," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    6. Chen, Qi & Qu, Zhaoming & Ma, Guohua & Wang, Wenjing & Dai, Jiaying & Zhang, Min & Wei, Zhanbo & Liu, Zhiguang, 2022. "Humic acid modulates growth, photosynthesis, hormone and osmolytes system of maize under drought conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    7. Xu, Jing & Li, Xiaofang & Wan, Wenliang & Zhu, Xiaoling & Li, Changhong & Zhao, Xiaowen & Zhao, Yanhui & Pang, Shenqun & Diao, Ming, 2024. "Impact of regulated deficit irrigation on the dynamics of quality changes in processing tomato fruits during ripening," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    8. Zong, Rui & Wang, Zhenhua & Zhang, Jinzhu & Li, Wenhao, 2021. "The response of photosynthetic capacity and yield of cotton to various mulching practices under drip irrigation in Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Huanhuan & Liu, Hao & Gong, Xuewen & Li, Shuang & Pang, Jie & Chen, Zhifang & Sun, Jingsheng, 2021. "Optimizing irrigation and nitrogen management strategy to trade off yield, crop water productivity, nitrogen use efficiency and fruit quality of greenhouse grown tomato," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    2. Liu, Hao & Li, Huanhuan & Ning, Huifeng & Zhang, Xiaoxian & Li, Shuang & Pang, Jie & Wang, Guangshuai & Sun, Jingsheng, 2019. "Optimizing irrigation frequency and amount to balance yield, fruit quality and water use efficiency of greenhouse tomato," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    3. Qu, Zhaoming & Chen, Qi & Yin, Shuhan & Feng, Haojie & Liu, Yanli & Li, Chengliang, 2024. "Effects of drip irrigation coupled with controlled release potassium fertilizer on maize growth and soil properties," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    4. Qu, Zhaoming & Chen, Qi & Feng, Haojie & Hao, Miao & Niu, Guoliang & Liu, Yanli & Li, Chengliang, 2022. "Interactive effect of irrigation and blend ratio of controlled release potassium chloride and potassium chloride on greenhouse tomato production in the Yellow River Basin of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    5. Lu, Jia & Shao, Guangcheng & Gao, Yang & Zhang, Kun & Wei, Qun & Cheng, Jifan, 2021. "Effects of water deficit combined with soil texture, soil bulk density and tomato variety on tomato fruit quality: A meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    6. Rose Daphnee Tchonkouang & Helen Onyeaka & Taghi Miri, 2023. "From Waste to Plate: Exploring the Impact of Food Waste Valorisation on Achieving Zero Hunger," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-21, July.
    7. Gao, Yang & Yang, Linlin & Shen, Xiaojun & Li, Xinqiang & Sun, Jingsheng & Duan, Aiwang & Wu, Laosheng, 2014. "Winter wheat with subsurface drip irrigation (SDI): Crop coefficients, water-use estimates, and effects of SDI on grain yield and water use efficiency," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 1-10.
    8. Jackson, T.M. & Hanjra, Munir A. & Khan, S. & Hafeez, M.M., 2011. "Building a climate resilient farm: A risk based approach for understanding water, energy and emissions in irrigated agriculture," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 104(9), pages 729-745.
    9. Sidhu, H.S. & Jat, M.L. & Singh, Yadvinder & Sidhu, Ravneet Kaur & Gupta, Naveen & Singh, Parvinder & Singh, Pankaj & Jat, H.S. & Gerard, Bruno, 2019. "Sub-surface drip fertigation with conservation agriculture in a rice-wheat system: A breakthrough for addressing water and nitrogen use efficiency," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 273-283.
    10. Norhan M. M. El-Syed & Ayman M. Helmy & Sara E. E. Fouda & Mohamed M. Nabil & Tamer A. Abdullah & Sadeq K. Alhag & Laila A. Al-Shuraym & Khalid M. Al Syaad & Anam Ayyoub & Mohsin Mahmood & Ahmed S. El, 2023. "Biochar with Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers Improves Defenses, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Yield of Maize Plants Subjected to Water Deficit in an Alkaline Soil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-18, August.
    11. Oweis, T.Y. & Farahani, H.J. & Hachum, A.Y., 2011. "Evapotranspiration and water use of full and deficit irrigated cotton in the Mediterranean environment in northern Syria," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(8), pages 1239-1248, May.
    12. Jianqin Ma & Yongqing Wang & Lei Liu & Bifeng Cui & Yu Ding & Lansong Liu, 2025. "Research on Summer Maize Irrigation and Fertilization Strategy in Henan Province Based on Multi-Objective Optimization Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-13, February.
    13. Chilin Wei & Yan Zhu & Jinzhu Zhang & Zhenhua Wang, 2021. "Evaluation of Suitable Mixture of Water and Air for Processing Tomato in Drip Irrigation in Xinjiang Oasis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-19, July.
    14. Zhai, Yijie & Bai, Yueyang & Shen, Xiaoxu & Zhang, Tianzuo & Jia, Yuke & Ren, Ke & Zhou, Xinying & Cheng, Ziyue & Hong, Jinglan, 2023. "Provincial water availability footprint evaluation and transfer analysis of China’s grain products: A life cycle perspective," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    15. Rosa Francaviglia & Claudia Di Bene, 2019. "Deficit Drip Irrigation in Processing Tomato Production in the Mediterranean Basin. A Data Analysis for Italy," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-14, April.
    16. Zhiwen Song & Lei Zhao & Junguo Bi & Qingyun Tang & Guodong Wang & Yuxiang Li, 2024. "Classification of Degradable Mulch Films and Their Promotional Effects and Limitations on Agricultural Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-19, July.
    17. Xu, Jing & Li, Xiaofang & Wan, Wenliang & Zhu, Xiaoling & Li, Changhong & Zhao, Xiaowen & Zhao, Yanhui & Pang, Shenqun & Diao, Ming, 2024. "Impact of regulated deficit irrigation on the dynamics of quality changes in processing tomato fruits during ripening," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    18. Mehmet Şahin, 2023. "Potential Use of Subsurface Drip Irrigation Systems in Landscape Irrigation under Full and Limited Irrigation Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-19, October.
    19. Gao, Jia & Li, Lin & Ding, Risheng & Kang, Shaozhong & Du, Taisheng & Tong, Ling & Kang, Jian & Xu, Wanli & Tang, Guangmu, 2025. "Grain yield and water productivity of maize under deficit irrigation and salt stress: Evidences from field experiment and literatures," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    20. Zhang, Xianbo & Yang, Hui & Du, Taisheng, 2025. "Study of regulated deficit irrigation regime based on individual fruit weight and quality response to water deficit duration: A case study in tomato," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:308:y:2025:i:c:s0378377425000319. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.