Journal of Agronomy and Field Innovations

Background: Capsicum annuum L., a lucrative vegetable crop, is heavily reliant on irrigation and is susceptible to moisture deficiencies in dry and semi-dry environments. The potential of precision irrigation with mulching in advancing sustainability is noteworthy.
Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the combination effects of drip irrigation and polyethylene (PE) cover on the growth and physiological response, fruit output, and water-use efficiency (WUE) of capsicum.
Methodology: A two-factor randomized complete block design with four irrigation treatments (traditional surface irrigation at 100% ETc, drip irrigation at 100%, 80%, and 60% ETc) and two types of cover (with and without 50 μm black PE film) was adopted. Plant development indices, physiological characteristics, retention of water in soil, yield components, and WUE parameters were evaluated in three replications.
Results: The implementation of drip irrigation with 100% ETc along with the use of PE mulch enhanced the plants’ height by 23.4%, branches number by 31.2%, and leaf area by 28.6% when compared to the traditional irrigation method. The marketable yield increased by 42.3% (65.4 t·ha⁻¹ compared to 45.9 t·ha⁻¹) while irrigation efficiency showed an increase of 68.5% (3.82 kg·m⁻³ compared to 2.27 kg·m⁻³). The results of the research showed that facilities applying drip irrigation at 80% ETc together with using mulch could produce the maximum yield while decreasing the irrigation water usage by 20.1%.
Conclusion: The combined application of drip irrigation system and PE mulch significantly improves the yield of capsicum and the efficiency in water usage, thus providing a viable solution for vegetable production in water scarce areas.