Growth, yield and water use pattern of chilli pepper under différent irrigation scheduling and management

Abstract

The damaging effect of climate change on global food security has assumed a frightening dimension leading to food shortages due to water scarcity especiaily in developing nations. The need for efficient irrigation scheduling for improving productivity especiaily pepper therefore, became imperative. In light of this the growth, yield and water-use pattern of chilli pepper under limited water conditions was determined in Akure, Nigeria. Expérimental set-up was a randomized complète block design of four treatments and three replicates. Plot A was irrigated at full evapotranspiration (100% ET) for three days, Plot B at 75% ET for four days; Plot G at 50% ET for five days while Plot D was irrigated at 25% ET for seven days. Agronomie, soil parameters and crop's consumptive water use were measured and results subjected to statistical analysis. Findings showed varying responses of chilli pepper to différent water treatments. Average plant height values and stem diameters in plots A, B, C and D were 138.8, 132, 177.5 and 159 and 1.7, 2.0, 2.3 and 2.1 cm, respectively. Total yield values in ail the treatments were 1.28, 1.45, 2.64 and 1.75 ton ha^1 in A, B, G and D, respectively. Gonsumptive water use of crop was maximum in ail the plots at 13 Weeks After Planting (WAP), 2.85 mm in A, 3.25 mm in B, 3.58 mm in C and 3.63 mm in D. Increasing water application beyond C does not resuit into increased growth and yield but losses. Statistical analysis among the agronomie parameters showed significant différence (p<0.05) in ail the treatments. The tremendous effect of water use pattern on the yield and agronomie parameters of the crop was évident from the study. © 2011 Knowledgia Review, Malaysia.