Effect of drip irrigation uniformity and soil moisture on growth and yield of chilli (Capsicum annum L.)

The present study was conducted at All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops, Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar during summer and late kharif 2018-19. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications and sixteen treatment combinations, which comprises four levels of irrigation viz., I1-0.7ETc, I2-0.8 ETC, I3-0.9 ETC and I4-1.0ETc by drip irrigation as main plot treatments and four levels of fertigation viz., F1-125, F2-100, F3-75 and F4-50% of RDF through WSF as sub-plot treatments. The control treatment (I5) i.e. surface irrigation with 100% RDF through conventional fertilizers. The results indicated that higher drip irrigation uniformity significantly improved soil moisture distribution, resulting in better vegetative growth and increased yield. Application of irrigation at 0.8 ETc level coupled with fertigation level F2-100% RDF through WSF recorded significantly maximum yield plant-1(444.49, 953.67 and 699.08 g, respectively), yield plot-1(14.22, 30.52 and 22.37 kg, respectively) and total yield hectare-1(123.47, 264.91 and 194.19 q, respectively).The study highlighting the importance of maintaining high irrigation system efficiency and appropriate moisture level to enhance water use efficiency and crop productivity in chilli cultivation.