Evaluating the effects of different irrigation and nitrogen applications on soil water content and yield quality parameters of pepper using surface and subsurface drip irrigation^*

Abstract

This study aimed at determining the effects of different irrigation water amounts and nitrogen (N) doses using surface drip irrigation (DI) and subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems on yield and quality (pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, fruit dry matter, fruit length, fruit diameter, number of fruits), water-yield functions, water productivity (WP) and seasonal evapotranspiration of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Effects of different irrigation systems, different irrigation regimes (full irrigation, FI; deficit irrigations, I 75 and I 50 receiving respectively 75 and 50% of FI) and four different N doses through fertigation (N 0 : unfertilized, N 70 : 70 kg N ha À1 , N 140 : 140 kg N ha À1 , N 210 : 210 kg N ha À1 ) on yield and quality parameters of pepper were investigated for 2 years (2015 and 2016) in the Ankara province of Turkey. The results show that SDI had greater yields than DI. The greatest WP was obtained from SDI I 50 N 210 and the lowest in DI FI N 0 . I 75 N 140 treatment could be used through fertigation in SDI in the case of no water shortage for higher yields and better quality attributes and I 50 N 210 could be used in the case of water scarcity, both to have reliable or acceptable yield.