Water requirement, deficit irrigation and crop coefficient of hot pepper ( Capsicum frutescens var legon 18) using irrigation intervalof two (2) days

摘要

This paper reports on the first part of a study whose objective was to calibrate and evaluate the FAO crop model AquaCrop for hot pepper. Specifically, it reports on the water requirement of hot pepper using an irrigation interval of two (2) days and also the effect of deficit irrigation on the growth and yield of hot pepper. At 100% water application (full irrigation), the crop coefficients for hot pepper were determined to be in the ranges: 0.41 - 0.74, 0.72 - 0.83, 0.98 - 1.03 and 0.5 - 0.74 for the initial, developmental, mid-season and late season stages respectively. The total amount of water applied for the 118 days ranged between 320mm and 432mm. The water use pattern had a significant effect on the yield and agronomic parameters of the crop such as plant height and leaf area. 20% deficit irrigation had no significant reduction on the yield of hot pepper but above this threshold there was an adverse effect on the growth and yield.