Irrigation is an important practice in chrysanthemum growing, but water management has been neglected, resulting in quality losses and yield reduction. The experiment was conducted at the Steltenpool farm, in the Holambra II District of the city of Paranapanema (23º4'S and 49º00'W). The aim of this research was to identify the best substrate water tension that could assure quality and high yield for the chrysanthemum, Puritan cultivar. Treatments were composed of six levels of substrate water tension: -2, -3, -4, -6, -10 and -30 kPa. Results showed that -2, -6 and -10 kPa substrate water tension resulted in the highest number of pots with A1 quality, considered the highest level in the grower's scale. Postharvest was also evaluated and plants irrigated when substrate water tension reached -30 kPa presented longer durability.
Dendranthema grandiflora; irrigation scheduling; substrate water tension
