Bell pepper cultivation under different irrigation strategies in soil with and without mulching

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate productive, physiological and phytotechnical characteristics of bell pepper under different irrigation strategies, in soil with mulch (polyethylene film, black on bottom, white on top) and without mulching. The experimental design was of randomized blocks with four replicates, arranged in split plot scheme; plots consisted of treatments with and without mulching, and in the subplots ten irrigation strategies = 1) 125% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc); 2) 100% of ETc; 3) 75% of ETc; 4) 50% of ETc, both in vegetative phase (FI) and production phase (FII); 5) regulated deficit irrigation (RDI); with 50% of ETc in FI and 100% of ETc in FII; 6) RDI with 100% of ETc in FI and 50% of ETc in FII; 7) RDI with 75% of ETc in FI and 100% of ETc in FII; 8) RDI with 100% of ETc in FI and 75% of ETc in FII; 9) RDI with 125% of ETc in FI and 75% of ETc in FII; 10) RDI with 75% of ETc in FI and 125% of ETc in FII. Two phytotechnical and one physiological evaluations were done during the phases of development and production. Moreover, we determined productivity and water-use efficiency 90 days after seedling transplanting. Plants maintained quantum efficiency and chlorophyll a content close to the ideal. Mulching provided higher number of fruits in comparison to plants grown in bare soil. Diameter, mass and length of the fruits as well as peel thickness were higher at the first two harvests. Irrigation at 50% of ETc in mulched soil provided higher productivity using less water, increasing water-use efficiency.