Effect of irrigation regime and application of kaolin on yield, quality and water use efficiency of tomato

On average, the highest fresh tomato fruit yields were achieved under full irrigation, with kaolin (FK) (21.0 kg m−2). The FK treatment also resulted in the greatest dry weight of the fruits (1.1 kg m−2). The average fruit weight was rather uniform and ranged from 71.7 g with DC to 75.4 g with DK. The average sugar and lycopene content was quite uniform over the study period, while the irrigation regime had a significant effect on the average organic acid content and total antioxidant activity. Deficit irrigation treatments resulted in a higher organic acid content and higher total antioxidant activity than full irrigation. The application of kaolin had a greater effect of the water use efficiency of tomato than the irrigation treatment.