Effect of drip irrigation and mulches on growth and yield of bell pepper (Capsicum fruitesens L.)

摘要

A field study was conducted on a gravelly sandy loam soil in Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, during the 2001/02 rabi season to study the effect of drip irrigation [trickle irrigation] at 3 levels of water application, i.e. at 1.0, 0.8 and 0.6 of maximum evapotranspiration and surface irrigation in combination with two mulches (black polyethylene and paddy husk) on the growth and yield of bell pepper cv. California Wonder. For surface irrigation, 40 mm depth of water was given at a IW/CPE ratio of 1.00. Plants irrigated through drip on an average were taller at harvest by approximately 5.5 cm compared to those that received surface irrigation. Plant height was more in black polyethylene mulch (47.3 cm) followed by paddy husk (42.3) and was least in unmulched (35.6) plots. The average dry matter produced was higher in drip irrigation treatments compared to surface irrigation throughout the growth period. It was highest in black polyethylene mulch followed by paddy husk and was lowest in unmulched plots throughout the crop growth period. Drip irrigation, in general, recorded significantly higher green fruit yield compared to surface irrigation. Among the irrigation treatments, the highest yield was recorded in drip 1.0 followed by drip 0.8 and drip 0.6, which were statistically at par. Black polyethylene mulch was superior (9.61 ha-1) to paddy husk mulch (8.681 ha-1) and no mulch (7.881 ha-1) treatments. Among all the treatments, the highest yield was obtained with drip 0.8 and black polyethylene mulch combination and the lowest was recorded in surface irrigation without mulch. The use of drip, alone or in combination with mulching, was better over surface irrigation.