Dry Matter Accumulation, Nutrient Uptake and Use Efficiencies in Polyhouse Grown Bell Pepper Under Deficit Water and Fertilizer Application

A study was carried out to evaluate the influence of deficit levels of irrigation and fertigation on accumulation of dry matter and uptake of major nutrients in bell pepper as well as to understand water and fertilizer use efficiencies of the crop under a polyhouse. A two-factor randomized block design was employed with irrigation regimes at 40% (I-1), 60% (I-2) and 80% (I-3) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) being the first factor and with the second factor being fertigation levels with 50% (F-1), 75% (F-2) and 100% (F-3) recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (150:150:150 kg/ha NPK)] along with a control treatment comprising water replenishment with 100% ETc through drip and 100% RDF using conventional fertilizers as soil application. Significantly higher uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as total dry matter accumulation was recorded under I-2 and F-2 and their resultant interaction combinations. The performance of the crop under farmer's practice treatment was poor in all respects, making it unsuitable for adoption in greenhouse crop cultivation. Water and fertilizer use efficiencies were higher with a decreased amount of applications as the combination of deficit levels of water (I-2) and fertilizer (F-2) was found superior in recorded parameters resulting in a higher fruit yield, which further helped in reducing the cost of the production as well as decreasing the pollution of the growing environment.