The experiment was conducted during 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 under naturally ventilated greenhouse condition at Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology (CPCT), ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. The capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) variety California Wonder was planted under colored plastic mulches (silver, yellow and black) and non-mulched (control) condition in combination with three levels of irrigation, viz. 100%, 80%, and 60% ETc.. The yield of capsicum was observed significantly higher under silver mulch (63-71.6 t/ha) followed by yellow mulch (60.04-67.04 t/ha) at 100% ETc and silver mulch (59.72-70.8 t/ha) at 80% ETc for three consecutive years. Growth parameters were significantly affected by different combination of treatments. The highest and lowest plant height (149.9 cm and 56.5 cm), leaf area (1.98 m2/m2 and 1.09 m2/m2) and total dry matter (120.4 g and 57 g) were observed under silver mulch with 100% and non-mulched with 60% ETc respectively during all the three years of experiment. Highest growth parameters were at par with silver mulch with 80% ETc treatment. Significantly higher crop water productivity (43.30-36.53 kg/m3) in silver mulch with 80 % ETc treatment was observed compared to other combination of treatments. The results revealed that, capsicum cultivation under silver coloured plastic mulch in the naturally ventilated greenhouse not only saved irrigation water but also enhanced yield, crop growth and crop water productivity at reduced level of irrigation (80% ETc). Silver colour plastic mulch was found to be best suitable for growing capsicum crop inside the naturally ventilated greenhouse.

Weight-based fertigation scheduling strategies optimized for cucumber production in coco-peat grow bag under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted using treatments comprised of four different levels of nutrient solution replenishment based on weight loss of growing bags along with plants, viz. full replenishment, 10% and 20% less replenishment and 20% more replenishment. Significantly, maximum cucumber yield (96.88–104.89 t/ha), number of fruits per plant (25–25.33) and yield per plant (2.42–2.62 kg/plant) were observed under full replenishment of nutrient solution against weight loss. It was also at par with treatment, which received 20% more nutrient solution as compared to full replenishment. The physiological attributes, viz. plant height (184 cm), number of nodes per plant (29.33), dry biomass and root parameters were observed higher in the full replenishment strategy which received 100% fertigation against the weight loss. Water use efficiency was found higher in the full replenishment followed by 20% less replenishment and lowest (811.38 kg/ha-mm) in 20% more replenishment of nutrient solution. Fertigation strategy which received the 100% nutrient solution against the weight loss, allowed the plant to grow fully with maximum yield and water use efficiency (WUE). Hence, 100% and more replenishment of nutrient solution against weight loss were found to be highly suitable strategies for controlling the fertigation scheduling through the weightbased sensing system.