Because the seed is planted shallow, it is subject to wet-dry cycles under furrow irrigation. Chile seedlings are weak and do not have the force necessary to break through the crust. The crust must be broken carefully so young seedlings will not be damaged, this process is not uniformly successful. Using sprinkler irrigation to keep the surface moist until the crop is established will eliminate wet-dry cycles and soil crusting. Periodic leaching will reduce moderate salt problems.
Fields can be flood-irrigated during fallow periods to carry salts away from the root zone.
Salt in the irrigation water can cause problems as the season progresses. Seeds or transplants sensitive to salt injury can be planted off-center on a peaked bed to avoid salt damage. Furrow irrigation carries salt away from the root zone to the center of the bed with the wetting front. Under sprinkler irrigation, soluble salts are carried downward, away from the root zone. Wind is a serious problem for chile in New Mexico.