Abstract
The use of plastic mulching and high frequency hydroponic drip irrigation (intensive production methods) watering cycle may increase tabasco pepper crop production per unit area. To test this hypothesis, two randomized block experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, using a 2 × 4 factorial scheme with two contrasting soil types (sandy loam and loamy soil), two mulching conditions of soil cover (SC), and no soil cover (NC) at four frequencies: 1, 3, 12, and 24 irrigations every three days. The growth and yield pepper components were evaluated and the water use efficiency (WUE) was calculated. Mulching did increase fruit dry mass percentage (FDMP), WUE, and potassium use efficiency (KUE) in sandy loam soil. The greater frequency fertigation did not increase fruit fresh mass (FFM), number of fruits (NF), fruit average mass (FAM), fruit dry mass (FDM), FDMP, or WUE in sandy loam and loamy soils. Tabasco pepper has a permanent shrub growth habit that is somewhat different from horticultural crops, besides it is usually responsive to high frequency irrigation under vegetative intensive growth.
Highlights
Intensive production methods, including the use of plastic mulching and drip irrigation operated at a high frequency watering cycle may favor pepper crop production (Gerçek and Demirkaya, 2021; Kabir et al, 2021)
From 120 to 180 days after transplanting (DAT), the main influences were a combination of temperature, water, and nutrients, while after 180 DAT, growth effects were caused primarily by water and nutrient availability
Considering the soil mulching factor in isolation, we found that the percent difference inFAM was proportionally larger in the sandy loam soil and smaller in the loamy soil compared to the differences in number of fruits (NF) (Table 3)
Summary
Intensive production methods, including the use of plastic mulching and drip irrigation operated at a high frequency watering cycle may favor pepper crop production (Gerçek and Demirkaya, 2021; Kabir et al, 2021). The effects of fertigation and plastic mulching on vegetative and productive responses of crops have been recently investigated by many scientists. Zong et al (2021) indicated that mulching of a cotton crop significantly increased soil water content compared to bare soil growth and was associated to greater plant height, leaf area index (LAI), photosynthetic rate, and aboveground biomass accumulation. Zhang et al (2019) found that plastic mulching improved maize grain yield, radiation efficiency, water, and nitrogen use. Mulching increased the number of kernels per spike and the thousand-seed weight, significantly improving crop yield. Liao et al (2021) used three mulching methods and three irrigation strategies to demonstrate the effects on soil environment, growth, and yield of apple trees and indicated that mulching and irrigation significantly increased the net photosynthetic rate of leaves and crop yield Mulching increased the number of kernels per spike and the thousand-seed weight, significantly improving crop yield. Liao et al (2021) used three mulching methods and three irrigation strategies to demonstrate the effects on soil environment, growth, and yield of apple trees and indicated that mulching and irrigation significantly increased the net photosynthetic rate of leaves and crop yield
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
