Influence of infield variability in irrigation and fertigation levels on growth 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 0.7ETc, 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 different drip irrigation levels on growth parameters and yield of chilli, drip irrigation levels between 80 to 100 per cent of crop evapotranspiration were found non -significant influence on the growth parameters and yield of chilli. Hence irrigation level of 80 per cent of crop evapotranspiration was found better among the all tested treatments. Whereas, application of different levels of fertigationin eleven had non-significant effect on plant height and plant spread of chilli at 30 and 60 DAT and found significant at 90 and 120 DAT. Yield of chilli was found highest in F3(fertigation with 100% of RDF) treatment. Further fertigation levels with 100 per cent of RDF and 80 per cent of RDF was found statistically at par with each other for the above growth parameters at various stages of crop growth 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.