MICRO IRRIGATION AND FERTIGATION PRACTICES IN CHILLI (CAPSICUM ANNUM) - Management, Performance, and Applications of Micro Irrigation Systems - page 167

weed density and weed growth were observed at higher level of nitrogen. Similar
results were reported by Narda and Lubana [12]. Increase in yield with higher level
of nitrogen fertilizer might be due to higher amount of nitrogen availability for promo-
tion of better carbohydrates utilization to form more protoplasm and cell and also due
to readily available nitrogen in the vicinity of the root zone due to fertigation resulting
in more efficient utilization of applied nitrogen than placement method. Similar results
were reported by Veranna et al. [19].

13.4 CONCLUSIONS
Based on the results in this chapter, one can conclude that drip irrigation enhanced the
net income and minimized the time, fruit yield, weeds and diseases of the crop. The
30 cm dripper spacing of improved net-income and higher yield, whereas wider spac-
ing (60 cm) saved the maximum water, minimized weed and disease incidences. The
application of irrigation at an alternate day was effective in vegetable crops. The drip
irrigation is more effective to get more fruits and fruit weight/plant and yield of the
vegetable crops compared with the traditional method of irrigation. This type of stud-
ies can also be carried out in other vegetable crops to arrive at some concrete decisions
for making recommendations for use of drip irrigation in vegetable crops. Fertigation
is very important activity to be undertaken with micro irrigation system to harvest
to harvest quality produce at competitive price to boost up the export and promote
hi-tech horticulture. The farmers should be trained to adopt these technologies as per
scientific recommendations to produce quality product.

13.5 SUMMARY
A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of drip irrigation, drip-
per spacing and nitrogen fertigation on Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) performance
and crop yield. The results revealed that drip irrigation enhanced the fruit yield, net
income and minimized the time, weeds and diseases of the crop. Closer spacing at
30 cm produced higher yield (58.77%) and net income as compared to 45 cm spac-
ing. Fertigation resulted in maximum yield (10.20 Kg/m 2 ), minimal disease and saved
water and total irrigation time as compared to top dressing. The drip irrigation had
significantly increased yield (10.50 Kg/m 2 ) and net income (60.30%) as compared to
flood irrigation.

KEYWORDS

• Bihar India

• Chilli (Capsicum Annum)

• Crop yield

• Drip irrigation

• Dripper spacing

• Fertigation