• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2011

This research was conducted to establish efficient methods to control root-zone temperature of tomato plant when cultivated in perlite bag during the summer season. Tomato plants were grown with four selected treatments; covering irrigation pipe by aluminum insulation material (Insulate), discarding nutrient solution inside the irrigation line before each irrigation (Discard), skipping irrigation for two hours from 13:00 to 15:00 (Skip), or no treatment as a control (Non). Based on the analysis of plant development index, all plants with selected treatments grew more vigorous and vegetative in similar growth patterns. The discard treatment exhibited the best root-zone temperature control among the treatments. The discard treatment also resulted in the best root growth and above-ground growth, followed by skip, Insulate and Non. The total yields were obtained by the order of Insulate, Discard, Non and Skip. However the marketable yield was obtained by the order of Discard, Insulate, Skip and Non. The net incomes treated with Discard and Insulate were 9,687,600 and 9,396,000 Korean won per hectare, respectively, exhibiting higher incomes than that of Non. Therefore, it was concluded that insulation of the irrigation pipe and discarding nutrient solution inside the pipe before each irrigation were the most desirable and economical methods in terms of costs and yields.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2010

Irrigation management methods controlled by integrated solar radiation (ISR) or drainage level sensor were evaluated in rockwool or coir bag culture as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production system. Substrate water content and drainage percentage were more stable in the drainage level sensor method than in the ISR method regardless of substrate type. Total yield and marketable yield were high in the drainage level sensor method, but not between substrates in the same irrigation management method. Sugar content was affected more by the substrate type than irrigation method. The drainage level sensor method was elucidated to be better than the ISR method regardless of substrate type.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2012

This research was performed to determine the appropriate daily last irrigation time to enhance the plant growth and the water and fertilizer use efficiencies in coir bag culture for tomato plant. The time to finish the daily irrigation was set by 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours before the sunset. The water content in the substrate was greatly affected by the last irrigation time. The earlier the last time, the greater the daily fluctuation of water contents in the substrate. The daily irrigation times were not affected by using irrigation management system controlled by drainage electrodes or the physiochemical properties of coir. The growth characteristics were not significantly different among the treatments. The highest marketable yields were obtained in the treatment finishing two hours before sunset, and the lowest yields were obtained in the the treatment finishing 4 hours before sunset. Based on the result from surveying quantity of irrigated water for 128 days of the experiment period, the water and fertilizer use efficiencies were lowest in the treatment finishing 4 hours before sunset, and the highest in the treatment finishing 2 hours before sunset. In terms of plant growth, yields, water and fertilizer use efficiencies, 2 hours before sunset treatment was determined as the most economical and desirable irrigation schedule.