Abstract
The effect of climate change on global food security has assumed a frightening dimension in developing nations. The need for efficient management to cope with the effect of climate change became imperative. The main aim of this research is to compare the growth and yield parameters of Chilli when it subjected to temperature and water stress. Experiments were conducted on the growing seasons of 2010 and 2011 at the Open University Sri Lanka Agricultural field located at Nawala, Nugegoda using Chilli Varity MI-2 in temperature regulated polytunnels. Split plot experiment based on Completely Randomized Design with 10 replicates was applied as an experimental design. Main plot included two different wetting applications (No water stress-at field capacity level and water stress at 50 % depletion from the field capacity level) and sub plots contained 3 different temperature regimes (34 °C, 32 °C temperature and ambient temperature). According to the results the temperature stress has especially affected the plant height, branches, canopy diameter and number of fruit weight at 0.01 probability levels. Further temperature stress showed significant effect at 0.05 probability level on transplant success, fruit diameter and number of fruits per plant. According to the yield parameters it was observed that interaction effect of the stresses of temperature and water had higher significant impact on growth and yield of Chilli. Yield reduction of Chilli due to temperature stress can be overcome by providing water at field capacity level of the soil moisture during growing period. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/ouslj.v7i0.7306 OUSL Journal Vol.7 2014: 25-42
Highlights
One of the most fundamental questions facing humanity today is global warming and how the humanity will face it with respect to increase food production
The cultivar MI-2 of Chilli was used in this study; this cultivar is currently recommended by the Department of Agriculture for production in Sri Lanka
Lowest transplanting percentage was shown at the 34 °C maximum temperature combined with the water stressed and this interacting effect highly significant at the 0.01 probability level
Summary
One of the most fundamental questions facing humanity today is global warming and how the humanity will face it with respect to increase food production. The phenological development rates of the crops will increase due to the higher temperature and an increase of temperature as well as water stress can be expected. Fernando and Chandrapala (1996) showed that the amount of rainfall received by the country has been declining gradually. The average annual rainfall which amounted to 2005 mm during 1931-1960 had declined to 1861 mm during the more recent (1961–1990) period. Long term temperature trends reveal a rise in temperature by 0.016 °C per year in 14 Meteorological stations during the recent 30 year period (Fernando and Chandrapala, 1992). Yield per unit area would be lower; resulting in an increase in the water demand of rain fed and irrigated crops as well as an increase in the potential evapotranspiration
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