Xin et al. (2026) Irrigation sequence regulates root-zone water-salt dynamics, growth kinetics, and yield formation of greenhouse tomato under saline-fresh water rotation

Identification

• Journal: Agricultural Water Management
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-07-25
• Authors: Lang Xin, Hairong Gao, Muradili Abulaiti, Songlong Hou, Yi Shen, Ziyi Zang, Yinkai Zhang, Yi Han, X Wang
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110624

Research Groups

• College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University
• Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps/Modern Agricultural Engineering Key Laboratory at Universities of Education Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/Key Laboratory of Tarim Oasis Agriculture, Ministry of Education/College of Water Hydraulic and Architectural Engineering,Tarim University

Short Summary

This study investigates the effects of saline-fresh water rotation on root-zone water-salt dynamics, growth kinetics, and yield formation in greenhouse tomato. The results suggest that an optimal irrigation sequence can balance saline-water use with root-zone salt control.

Objective

• Investigate how different irrigation sequences regulate root-zone water-salt dynamics and influence season-long tomato growth and yield formation

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Greenhouse, 4.0 m × 4.5 m plots
• Temporal Scale: Three consecutive growing seasons (2022)

Methodology and Data

• Models used:
  • Logistic model for plant height, leaf area index, and aboveground dry matter
  • Partial least squares path modeling to identify key drivers of tomato yield formation
• Data sources:
  • Field measurements of soil water content, electrical conductivity, plant height, leaf area index, aboveground biomass, and yield

Main Results

• Saline-fresh water rotation altered the temporal distribution of root-zone soil water, with W2 maintaining relatively high soil water content and W3 remaining closer to CK.
• The spatial pattern of salt transport and accumulation was broadly similar among treatments, with clear salt accumulation at the edge of the wetted zone.
• Plant height under W1 and W2 decreased by 10.08%–21.04% and 9.69%–19.23%, respectively, compared to CK.
• Aboveground dry matter under W1 and W2 decreased by 16.72%–31.11% and 31.81%–43.41%, respectively, compared to CK.
• Tomato yield and its components under different saline-fresh water rotation treatments showed that W1 and W2 significantly reduced average fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit number per plant, and total yield.

Contributions

• This study provides a dynamic water-salt-growth-yield framework for optimizing saline-water timing and freshwater leaching in greenhouse tomato production.
• The results suggest that an optimal irrigation sequence can balance saline-water use with root-zone salt control.

Funding

• National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52179203)
• Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land (Grant No. XZKY-QN202101)

Citation

@article{Xin2026Irrigation,
  author = {Xin, Lang and Gao, Hairong and Abulaiti, Muradili and Hou, Songlong and Shen, Yi and Zang, Ziyi and Zhang, Yinkai and Han, Yi and Wang, X},
  title = {Irrigation sequence regulates root-zone water-salt dynamics, growth kinetics, and yield formation of greenhouse tomato under saline-fresh water rotation},
  journal = {Agricultural Water Management},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110624},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110624}
}