Avaliação de um sistema de irrigação por sulcos empregado na tomaticultura-de-mesa da região de Campinas-SP.

Abstract

The region of Campinas, SP, is one of the greatest Brazilian producers of fresh market tomatoes. However, the furrow irrigation system adopted traditionally by the farmers is known by its low efficiency and potentiality of environmental contamination. Looking for to identify the main causes of water losses, a furrow irrigation system used in the region was evaluated in the field. The following irrigation performance parameters were determined: application efficiency, distribution uniformity, storage efficiency, deficit degree, runoff and deep percolation losses. The results showed values of application efficiency between 21,7 and 32,2%, with deep percolation losses between 61,6 and 77,7%. The irrigation performance parameters values proved the low quality of the irrigation and showed that the farmers need to implement some technical criteria to manage the irrigation practices.