Maximizing crop yield and economic benefit through water and nitrogen optimization in bell pepper

Considering climate change-induced water scarcity and excessive fertilizer use, boosting agricultural productivity has become a worldwide concern, particularly in Qatar's harsh climate. Adopting well-coordinated strategies is essential to improve yield and crop water productivity (WP C ). Thus, this research was conducted to assess the impact of varying irrigation regimes (50 %: deficit irrigation and 100 %: full irrigation, denoted as DI and FI) and nitrogen (N) levels (50 %, 70 %, and 100 %, denoted as N 1 , N 2 , and N 3 ) on the vegetative growth, yield, WP C , nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and economic benefit of bell pepper. Our results revealed significant enhancements in vegetative growth, yield, WP C , and NUE across different irrigation levels and N treatments. The most favorable vegetative growth was observed at a 50 % irrigation level and 70 % N rate (TR 2 ). Optimal irrigation at 50 % led to the highest yield of 25.4 t ha −1 with a WP C of 0.30 kg m 3 , while a nitrogen dose of 70 % resulted in a peak yield of 25.7 t ha −1 with an NUE of 0.37 t ha −1 kg −1 and with the highest economic benefit of production. Moreover, as irrigation and N application decreased, WP C and NUE increased. These findings present valuable insights into reducing water consumption in agricultural practices, especially in water-scarce countries and regions like Qatar. This study highlights the potential for water-saving strategies to promote sustainability in agricultural production. • Bell pepper yield is significantly influenced by water and nitrogen levels. • Increased irrigation levels led to decreased crop water productivity. • The highest net income was recorded at deficit irrigation and 70 kg N ha −1 . • Deficit irrigation and 70 kg N ha −1 are recommendable for water scarcity conditions.