Water consumption and yield of tomatillo under different greenhouse covers

In Mexico, tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa) is cultivated in the field, in small areas with low technology and low yields. To understand the behavior of tomatillo and increase its yield, the P. ixocarpa cv. Rendidora crop was evaluated. The evaluation was done in greenhouse under three protective structures covered with different materials and their influence on the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), the temperature and relative humidity, the soil matric potential, the water consumption and yield. The greenhouse covering materials were transparent polyethylene, diffuse white polyethylene and white mesh anti-aphids. Each cover material was considered a treatment and also the control without cover. The crop density was 1.5 plants/ m² established in soil, under a complete randomized block design with four replications and 20 plants per experimental unit in each environment. The transparent polyethylene cover increased the temperature of the environment as well as the soil matric potential and decreased the relative humidity. It also increased water consumption (84 L/plant/cycle), efficiency (26 L/kg fruit), and yield (3.23 kg/plant). We concluded that the cover transparent polyethylene increased by 114% the efficiency in water use and, by 158% the fruit yield of P. ixocarpa cv. Rendidora.