Irrigation scheduling strategies for pepper based on evaporation and reference evapotranspiration

Borivoj Pejić,Dušanka Bugarski,Miroljub Aksić,Ivana Bajić,Ksenija Mačkić,Slobodan Vlajić,Adam Takač

doi:10.5937/aaser2151069p

Borivoj Pejić, Dušanka Bugarski + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5937/aaser2151069p

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Abstract

The experiment with drip irrigated pepper was conducted at the Rimski Šančevi experimental field of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad in 2019. The irrigation was scheduled on the basis of the water balance method. Two methods were used to compute the daily evapotranspiration of pepper (ETd): reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and evaporation from an open water surface (Eo). Crop coefficients (kc) and corrective coefficients (k) were used to convert ETo and Eo values into ETd. Kc and k were 0.3-0.4, 0.6-0.7, 0.9-1.1, 0.8-0.9 and 0.4, 0.7, 1.0 and 0.8 for initial stage, crop development, mid season, and late season, respectively. ETo was calculated by the Hargreaves equation. Eo values were measured by a Class-A pan located at a meteorological station near the experimental plot. Irrigation started when readily available water (RAW) in the 0.3 m soil layer was completely absorbed by plants. Differences in crop yield (Y) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) obtained using Eo (42.58 t ha-1, 15.20 kg m-3) and ETo (40.78 t ha-1, 14.56 kg m-3) were not statistically different. Evapotranspiration rate was 364.2 mm and 337.3 mm in Eo and ETo variant, respectively. The fact that the differences in Y and IWUE between different calculations of ETd were not statistically significant indicates that both methods can be recommended for irrigation scheduling programs for pepper in the climatic conditions of the Vojvodina region. However, priority should be given to ETo due to the easy accessibility and reliability of data.

Highlights

Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) belongs to the family Solanaceae
The fact that the differences in Y and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) between different calculations of ETd were not statistically significant indicates that both methods can be recommended for irrigation scheduling programs for pepper in the climatic conditions of the Vojvodina region
Lower average pepper yields in Serbia, compared to those achieved in the leading pepper growing countries (South Korea 67.2 t ha-1, USA 53.9 t ha-1, Japan 53.9 t ha-1, and Germany 45.6 t ha-1, FAOSTAT, 2016), are primarily due to improper management practices, insufficient amount and unfavorable distribution of precipitation in the growing season, and poor optimization of the irrigation regime

Summary

Introduction

Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) belongs to the family Solanaceae It is cultivated in warm climate regions worldwide, such as Asia, northern America, southern and central Europe, and tropical and subtropical Africa (Thampi, 2004), and is native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America (Echer et al, 2002). It is the world’s second most important vegetable after tomato. In Vojvodina, the northern province of the Republic of Serbia, pepper is grown on 2 900 hectares, with an average yield of 15.9 t ha-1 and an annual production of 43 000 t. Lower average pepper yields in Serbia, compared to those achieved in the leading pepper growing countries (South Korea 67.2 t ha-1, USA 53.9 t ha-1, Japan 53.9 t ha-1, and Germany 45.6 t ha-1, FAOSTAT, 2016), are primarily due to improper management practices, insufficient amount and unfavorable distribution of precipitation in the growing season, and poor optimization of the irrigation regime

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