Abstract

SERNA-PEREZ, Alfonso; ZEGBE, Jorge Artemio  and  MENA-COVARRUBIAS, Jaime. Yield and fruit quality of 'Mirasol' dry chili cropped under partial rootzone drying. Rev. Chapingo Ser.Hortic [online]. 2011, vol.17, n.spe1, pp.19-24. ISSN 2007-4034.

The efficient use of water resources is mandatory for the dry chili producing area of Zacatecas. The objective of this study was to compare two types of partial rootzone drying (PRD) against commercial irrigation (CI) in relation to yield and fruit quality, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and pepper wilt incidence (WI) of chilli cv. 'Mirasol'. PRD treatments were PRD₅₀ on which 50% of CI was applied alternately to both sides of the root zone, and PRD₅₀₊₂₀ which was similar to PRD₅₀, but additionally 20% of CI was applied to the drying side of the root system. PRD₅₀ and PRD₅₀₊₂₀ promoted water savings compared with CI. The fruit quality categories of dry chili and yield were similar among treatments, but yield tended to decrease in PRD₅₀ and PRD₅₀₊₂₀ in 2009. The IWUE tended to increase in PRD₅₀ and PRD₅₀₊₂₀ relative to CI. In 2008 WI was the same among treatments, but in 2009 it increased in the PRD treatments. Soil water saturation by continuous precipitations after irrigation events partially explained the increase in WI, and therefore the reduction in yield in the 2009. Nevertheless, PRD₅₀ tended to increase IWUE by 28 % and to reduce the volume of water applied by 32 % with respect to CI. Therefore, the RPR is a promising strategy for sustainability of this production system.

Keywords : Capsicum annuum L; water-saving; dry matter distribution; irrigation water use efficiency.

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