MSc

A field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm of the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period December 1994 to March 1995 to study the effects of graded levels of nitrogen, potassium, drip and furrow irrigation on the growth, moisture characters, yield, quality and nutrient uptake of vegetable chilli cv. Jwalasakhi. The soil of the experimental field red loam acidic in reaction, medium in available nitrogen and phosphorous and low in available potassium. These treatments consisted of 3 levels of nutrients (50:40:16.7;75:40:25 and 100:40:33.3 N:P2O5: K2O kg ha-1 respectively) under two levels of drip irrigation(1 litre and 2litre plant-1 day -1) and two levels of furrow irrigation ( at 10mm and 20 mm CPE at a depth 20 mm). The experiment was laid out in strip plot design. An abstract of the result is given below.

Plant height, number of braches plant -1, DMP, shoot – root ratio and spread of canopy differed significantly with methods of irrigation and levels of nutrients. All these parameters were on the increase under drip irrigation @ 2 litre plant -1 day and higher level of nutrients.

Moisture characters like moisture distribution pattern at 10,20 and 30 cm, depth and WUE increased with drip irrigation and higher level of nutrients. Drip irrigation @ 2 litre plant -1 day -1 recorded maximum soil moisture content at all depths while there was no significant different with 1 litre or 2 litre water with regard WUE. The effects on graded levels of nutrients on soil moisture content at varying depths was significant only up to medium level of nutrients. All yield parameters like number of flowers plant-1, setting percentage of fruit and 100 fruit weight and significantly with methods of irrigation and levels of nutrients. These parameters were higher with drip irrigation @ of 2 litre plant -1 day-1 and higher level of nutrients.

All yield parameters lie number of flowers plant -1, setting percentage of fruit and 100 fruit weight very significantly with methods of irrigation and levels of nutrients. These parameters were higher with drip irrigation @ 2 litre plant-1 day-1 and higher level of nutrients. With regard to the time taken for 50% flowering, plants drip irrigated @ 2 litre day-1 and higher level of nutrients hastened this phytophase.

Maximum yield plant -1 very significantly with methods of irrigation and levels of nutrients. This was highest (13.12t ha-1) for drip irrigation @ 2 litre plant -1 day-1 and with 100:40:33.3kg NPK ha-1 .

Ascorbic acid content of fruit was maximum with drip irrigation @2litre plant-1 day-1 and higher level of nutrients. Uptake of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium were maximum with drip irrigation @ 2litre plant-1 day-1 and higher level of nutrients.

Soil nitrogen and phosphorous status was significant in plots receiving nutrients only upto the medium level. Plots receiving drip irrigation @ 2 litre plant -1day -1 recorded highest soil nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium status.

Maximum profit was obtained (Rs.1,07,213.50 ha-1) with drip irrigation @ 2 litre Plant -1 day-1 with NPK @ 100:40:33.3 kg ha-1.