Management of water defi cit in the irrigated production of the green pepper

Abstract

Information on irrigation management is essential for achieving satisfactory results when cultivating the green
pepper. The aim of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the eff ects of water defi cit, which varies according to phenological stage,
on the production, growth and physiology of a crop of green peppers. The experimental design was completely randomised, with
seven treatments, four repetitions, and plots comprising two plants. The treatments consisted of replacing the water demand during
phenological phases I, II, III and IV (in terms of percentage ETc): T1 – 100%/I, 100%/II, 100%/III and 100%/IV; T2 – 100%/I, 75%/
II, 100%/III and 75%/IV; T3 – 100%/I, 75%/II, 75%/III and 75%/IV; T4 – 100%/I, 75%/II, 75%/III and 50%/IV; T5 – 100%/I, 50%/
II, 75%/III and 50%/IV; T6 – 100%/I, 50%/II, 50%/III and 50%/IV; T7 – 100%/I, 50%/II, 50%/III and 25%/IV. The plants were
grown in the fi eld under drip irrigation. The following variables were analysed: plant height; stem diameter, leaf area, shoot dry
weight, number of fruits per plant, soluble solids, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, productivity, relative chlorophyll index,
gas exchange, and water use effi ciency. Compared to T1, management based on T2, T3 and T4 did not reduce expression of the vast
majority of the vegetative variables or of gas exchange. The water defi cit from T2 can be employed without any signifi cant reduction
in productivity and aff ords water savings of 12.5% in relation to T1. T1 and T2 give the highest values for water use effi ciency.
Management based on T1 and T2 is therefore recommended for cultivating the green pepper under fi eld conditions.