Evaluating the effects of deficit irrigation and fertigation on growth, yield and water productivity of capsicum crop grown in a polytunnel | |
| Author | Ali, Arfan |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.WM-20-12 |
| Subject(s) | Crops--Water requirements Irrigation farming Capsicum |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Water Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Water scarcity is serious problem to meet potential yield. There is increasing interest in improving water productivity by technical means. Optimum use of nutrients and water within root zone can increase production with less resources. This research aims to study effects of deficit irrigation and fertigation on growth parameters, yield components, yield and water productivity of capsicum crop in polytunnel. To get done nine deficit irrigation and fertigation treatment under drip irrigation were assayed during one season (November 2019 to February 2020) in complete randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. These irrigation and fertigation strategies consisted of applying 100%,75% and 50% of the irrigation water requirement (IWR) and fertilizer requirement during the entire growing season (continued deficit irrigation and fertigation).A control treatment (furrow irrigation with 100% W and 100%RDF) with three replicate was planned to compare the behavior of plant to different deficit levels. Statistically results revealed that under 100%Etc with 100%,75% and 50%RDF showed good results in vegetative growth of plant like leaf size(11.5 cm2), plant height (2.5cm) and canopy area(217cm2) as compared to control and 75,50 % ETc. Meanwhile first flowering (6), fruit setting (6.4) and fruit maturity (4.9) days occurs in water stress treatments due to stomatal resistance with all combination of fertilizers. For yield components observing number of fruits (5.9) were increased in 75% ETc with 75%RDF due to availability in balanced nutrients and water use efficiency. The lowest were in 50%ETc with all combination of fertilizer. For fruit characteristics length (3.8cm) diameter(2cm) and weight were increased in 100%ETc with slightly less in 75%ETc with 75%RDF.Yield was increased due to number of fruits and fruit weight in 75%ETc with 75%RDF (20 t/ha) more as compared to control treatment. Water productivity was observed higher (18.4 kg/m3) in deficit irrigation treatments. While full irrigation and control treatments showed inadequate results. On the basis of results in terms of yield and water productivity in sandy loam soil 75%ETc with 75%RDF is a best approach for capsicum crop in polytunnel under drip irrigation for November to February. |
| Year | 2020 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Water Engineering and Management (WM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shanmugam, Mohana Sundaram; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shrestha, Sangam;Babel, Mukand S.;Datta, Avishek; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | World Bank/Punjab Agriculture Department, Pakistan; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2020 |