Мелиорация и гидротехника (Nov 2023)
Irrigation regimes for sweet peppers
Abstract
Purpose: to study the features of irrigation regimes and their impact on the yield of sweet pepper based on the analysis of scientific sources of information. Discussion. Sweet pepper is a moisture-loving crop. For its normal growth and development, optimal soil moisture is required. Plants experience a special need for moisture when planting seedlings, flowering, as well as during fruit set and formation. Since sweet pepper crops are located in southern regions with a moisture deficit, irrigation acts as a guarantor of obtaining the planned yield of this crop. The main elements of the irrigation regime are irrigation, irrigation norms, the number of irrigations, the timing of their implementation to maintain a given level of soil moisture during crop cultivation. Modern irrigation regimes for sweet pepper have been developed both for conditions of full provision of water resources and for conditions of their deficiency. Under conditions of full water supply, maximum productivity and product quality indicators, more efficient use of irrigation water are ensured by drip irrigation mode with maintaining the pre-irrigation moisture threshold of the calculated soil layer at least 70–80 % of the lowest moisture capacity during the growing season. In differentiated irrigation regimes, higher values of pre-irrigation soil moisture thresholds are maintained in the first half of the growing season, when it is necessary to create favorable conditions for the rooting of seedlings, growth and development of plants. However, during this period the size of the calculated soil layer is reduced. By the stage of technical ripeness and until the end of fruit harvesting, soil moisture thresholds are reduced to 70–75 % of the lowest moisture capacity, but the moistened layer is increased. Conclusions. Optimal irrigation regimes make it possible to maintain the vital processes of plants and obtain the planned productivity even in dry conditions. The combination of irrigation modes with other elements of the technological process (mulching, fertilizing, etc.) increases the productivity of sweet pepper by 15–20 %.
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