Influence of Drip Irrigation Methods and Sensor-based Irrigation Scheduling on the Phenological Development of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

Water scarcity and increasing competition for water resources have made efficient irrigation management a critical component of sustainable agricultural production. Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), a shallow rooted and moisture sensitive crop requires precise water management to ensure optimum growth and reproductive development. Fluctuations in soil moisture during critical phenological stages can adversely affect crop growth and yield. Therefore, maintaining optimal soil moisture throughout the crop growth period is essential for achieving stable growth and productivity. Hence, a field experiment was conducted during rabi 2022–23 and 2023–24 at Water Technology Centre fields, College Farm, College of Agriculture, PJTAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India to evaluate the “Influence of drip irrigation methods and sensor-based irrigation scheduling on the phenological development of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). The treatments studied under split plot design were surface drip irrigation (I₁) and subsurface drip irrigation (I₂) included under main plots (I-drip irrigation methods) and soil moisture sensor-based irrigation triggering (S₁), plant water stress sensor-based irrigation triggering (S₂), ET sensor-based irrigation triggering (S₃) and irrigation scheduling at 1.0 Epan by manual (control) (S₄) under sub plots (S-irrigation scheduling approaches). Phenological observations such as days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, vegetative phase, flower initiation to fruit initiation, fruit initiation to first picking and first picking to last picking were recorded and analysed. The results indicated that drip irrigation methods did not significantly influence most of the phenological parameters. However, irrigation scheduling approaches significantly affected days to maturity and days from fruit initiation to first picking during both years. ET sensor-based irrigation triggering recorded the earliest maturity (69.8 and 69.3 days) and reduced the duration from fruit initiation to first picking (18.3 and 16.8 days) compared to other treatments, indicating better synchronization of crop growth with water availability.