Influence of Deficit Irrigation on Biometric Parameters of Capsicum Crop under Polyhouse Conditions
Authors: Raju Jaripiti Trivikrama , Krishna G. Muralee , Kumar H. V. Hema , Sumathi P. 
Published: March 2021

The influence of different deficit irrigations on capsicum crop biometric parameters and fruit yield were assessed in an experiment the variety ‘Indra’ was tested using completely randomized block design with three deficit irrigations (0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 ETC) and 5 replications in polyhouse and 1.0 ETC in open field conditions. The biometric parameters namely plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, number of days to flowering; number of days to harvesting, number of fruits per plant, individual fruit weight and fruit yield are measured. From the results, observed that, average of plant height (91.23 cm), number of leaves (91.3), number of branches (6.9), number of days to flowering (32.7), number of days to harvest (71), fruit number per plant (7), individual fruit weight (75.99 g) and yield (6466.66 t ha-1) parameters found higher in 1.0 ETC (T1), but in case of water productivity (12.4 kg ha-1 mm-1) in the treatment (T2) 0.75 ETC showed superiority. From the results, it is determined that by adopting the 0.75 ETC (T2) we can save the water up to 25%.

Aims: The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of deficit irrigation in biometric parameters of capsicum.

Study Design:  Completely randomized block design.

Place and Duration of Study: Experiment conducted during January to May 2018 at Agriculture farm, College of Agricultural Engineering, Madakasira located in Rayalaseema region.

Methodology: Physical and chemical properties of field were found by using standard methods. The experiment was arranged using CRD design with three levels of irrigation and five replications. Fertigation was done with 250:150:150 kg/ha recommended doses of N:P:K to capsicum crop. Based on climatological approach (evapotranspiration basis) the quantity of water applied. All the recommended cultural practices selection of cultivars, nursery raising, land preparation, laying drip lines, fumigation, fertilizer application, transplanting, pruning, training and plant protection measures are removing affected plant parts, flowers, fruits and for thrips and aphids management are dicofol (2 ml/L) and imidacloprid (0.5 ml/l) standardized for polyhouse were followed time to time to ensure a healthy crop stand. Crop water requirement was determined by using AquaCrop model. The parameters viz., plant height, number of leaves per plant and number of branches per plant were recorded at 30, 60, 90, 120 days after transplanting and at harvest. The collected data of different parameters during the course of research were analysed as per the completely randomized design (CRD) by applying the technique of analysis of variance procedure.

Results: Among all the treatments, Irrigation with 100% Crop Evapotranspiration (1.0 ETc) (T1) registered the highest plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, number of days required to harvesting, number of days required to flowering, fruit number, average fruit weight and fruit yield, followed by 0.75 ETc (T2), 0.5 ETc (T3) and open field conditions. This might be due to good soil moisture distribution in drip irrigation compared to the open field. From the observed parameters it is exhibited that drip irrigation 0.75 ETC recorded as the higher water productivity (12.4 kg ha-1 mm-1) followed by drip irrigation scheduled at 1.0 ETC (11.49 kg ha-1 mm-1), 0.5 ETC (11.07 kg ha-1 mm-1) and open field (1.38 kg ha-1 mm-1) recorded very less.

Conclusion: By adopting T2 (0.75 ETC) irrigation treatment we can save the water up to 25%, by using saved water additional quantity of vegetables can be produced.