Effect of Irrigation and Fertigation Levels on Growth andYield of Chilli [Capsicum annuumL.]

The present investigation 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., I 1 -0.7ETc,
I 2 -0.8 ET C , I 3 -0.9 ET C and I 4 -1.0ETc by drip irrigation as main plot treatments and four
levels of fertigation viz., F 1 -125, F 2 -100, F 3 -75 and F 4 -50 % of RDF through WSF as sub-
plot treatments. The control treatment (I 5 ) i.e. surface irrigation with 100 % RDF through
conventional fertilizers. The results indicated that the irrigation level I 2 -0.8 Etc as well as
fertigation level F 2 -100% RDF through WSF showed significantly better growth
attributes viz., plant height, number of primary branches plant -1 and plant spread compared
to the rest of the levels of drip irrigation and fertigation as well as control, during both the
season of experimentation and in pooled results.
As concerned with flowering characteristics, the control treatment noticed early
days to 50 % flowering than the rest of the levels of drip irrigation and fertigation.
Whereas irrigation levels showed significant variation in respect days to 50 % flowering,
the irrigation levelI 1 -0.7ETcregistered minimum days to 50 % flowering while maximum
days to 50 % flowering was observed under I 4 -1.0ETcirrigation regime, while the
fertigation level F 1 -125% RDF through WSF recorded significantly minimum number of
days to 50 % flowering during both the season under study and also reflected same trend
in pooled results.
Scheduling of irrigation through drip irrigation at 0.8 ETc irrigation level along
with fertigation level F 2 -100 % RDF through WSF recorded significant maximum fruit
length, fruit diameter, and average weight of fruit over rest of the levels of drip irrigation
and fertigation as well as control, during both the season and in pooled results.
Application of irrigation at 0.8Etc level coupled with fertigation level F 2 -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). However, challenges
include understanding the specific needs of different chili varieties and soil types,
ensuring equitable water and fertilizer distribution, and overcoming logistical barriers in
remote areas.