Table 1 List of examples of the techniques and management approaches studied for open field tomato production and how they may influence under reduced water, nitrogen and/or phosphorus
Irrigation | (i.e.) Drip irrigation, deficit irrigation, partial root-zone drying, subsurface irrigation | Volume and frequency of irrigation; water saving by exposed periods of water stress; evaporation of soil surface water |
Fertilization | Mineral/organic | Plant nutrient assimilation rate |
Soil/foliar application | Accessibility of nutrients for plant use | |
Granular/liquid (i.e. fertigation) | Accessibility of nutrients for plant use; efficiency on time of application | |
Plantation density | Radiation interception; soil evapotranspiration; plant development | |
No-till/reduced tillage | Soil erosion; N leaching; soil structure and moisture | |
Legume cover crop | N release; reduce potentials for soil erosion | |
Soil amendments | (i.e.) Compost, peat, manure, vermiculite, biochar, clay | Soil physical–chemical properties; water retention in soil; provision and/or availability of plant nutrients |
Biostimulants and biofertilizers | Plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) biofertilizers | Provision and/or availability of primary plant nutrients; nutrient uptake by plants |
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation | Symbiosis with plants; macro- and micro-nutrient uptake by plants | |
Molecular biostimulants (i.e. protein hydrolysate) | Regulation of stress-related responses | |
Plant extracts | Tolerance to abiotic stress (tolerance to drought); plant growth promotion; influence on root/microbe interactions | |
Techno-chemical | Pan evaporation and tensiometer readings | Planning for optimal irrigation scheduling; efficiency of water use |
Petiole sap testing and tissue analysis | Planning for plant nutrition requirements; efficiency of nutrient applications | |
Grafting | Use of plant rootstocks resistant to abiotic stressors; tolerance to water- and nutrient- deficit | |
Mulching | Soil temperature and moisture; canopy-air temperature differential; soil quality and fertility; weed management control | |
Anti-transpirants | Leaf transpiration; plant water retention | |
Controlled/slow-release fertiliser | NPK accumulation and retention in soil; nutrient uptake by plants | |
Breeding and genetics | Cultivar breeding | Tolerant cultivars to abiotic stress (water and nutrient deficiencies) |
Genetic modification (GM) | Genetically modified tomato varieties with abiotic tolerant traits (drought and nutrient deficiency) | |
Computational | Precision agriculture | Fertilization/irrigation dosage; soil erosion; N leaching |
Decision models | Planning for optimal irrigation/fertilization scheduling; irrigation/fertilization dosage | |