Effect of irrigation and fertilization methods on cherry-tomato yield and nutrient utilization in greenhouse

To probe appropriate methods of irrigation and fertilization for cherry-tomato in greenhouse, an experiment was conducted with 6 treatments to compare fertilizer application rates, tomato yield, nutrient uptake and utilization, and economic benefits. These 6 treatments were border irrigation (abbreviated to B), border irrigation& water-flush-fertilization (BF), drip irrigation (D), drip fertigation (DF₂), drip fertigatiopn & fertilizaer application amount is 50%DF₂ (abbreviated to DF₁), and drip fertigatiopn & amount is 150%DF₂ (abbreviated to DF₃). Comparing with BF treatment, DF₂ treatment decreased N fertilizer amount by 29.7%, increased tomato yield by 10.24% and enhanced fertilizer use efficiency form 17.58% to 27.57%, which not only maintained desirable yield and meet the need of the cherry-tomato vegetable for nutrients, but also diminished the potential pollution in soil and groundwater. Based on the application of organic fertilizer, phosphor (P) fertilizer and potassium (K) fertilizer, 256 kgN·hm^-2 was recommended as the nitrogen fertilizer application rate of drip fertigation for winter-spring season cherry-tomato.