THE EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION WATER AS A FUNCTION OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN IRRIGATION DRIPPERS IN A TOMATO FIELD.

The growth and the yield of the tomato plant in southern hot-arid areas of Italy, depending on the satisfaction of water needs. The aim is to evaluate the effect of the distance between drippers on the marketable yield of tomatoes because the installation depend mainly on the number of drippers. Were compared 4 dripper intervals: 15, 30, 60 and 90 cm. The results show that the distance between the drippers must be determined according to the hydraulic characteristics of the soil. In soils with a clay matrix characterized by a low infiltration rate, it seems useful to position the drippers at a distance between 60 and 90 cm.