Effect of different irrigation and fertigation levels on fruit quality and yield of Summer chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Impact of Irrigation and Fertigation Levels on Growth, Yield and Quality of Summer Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)” was carried out during summer season of 2018, in split plot design having main plot treatments as drip irrigation levels viz. I1: at 0.7 ETc, I2: at0.8 ETc,I3: at 0.9 ETc, I4: at 1.0 ETc, and I5: at 1.1 ETc and Sub-plot treatments as fertigation levels viz. F1= 60 per cent of RDF, F2= 80 per cent of RDF and F3= 100 per cent of RDF with fifteen treatment combinations, replicated thrice. Results of the study indicates that the significant differences on chilli yield and quality attributes viz., per cent fruit set, fruit length, girth and number of fruits per plant were observed for different drip irrigation and fertigation levels. As drip irrigation levels between 80 to 100 per cent of crop evapotranspiration were found statistically at par with each other for fruit quality and yield of chilli, irrigation level of 80 per cent of crop evapotranspiration was found optimum among the all tested treatments. Whereas, for different levels of fertigation in eleven splits had significant effect on fruit quality and yield of chilli. Fruit quality and yield of chilli was found highest in F3 (fertigation with100% of RDF) treatment. Further fertigation levels with100 per cent of RDF and 80 per cent of RDF was found statistically at par with each other for the fruit quality and yield of chilli. Therefore, fertigation with 80 per cent RDF in eleven splits was found optimum. Interaction effect of different irrigation and fertigation level was found non-significant.