Response of bell pepper crop subjected to irrigation depths calculated by different methodologies

ABSTRACT Water must be supplied to a crop in the proper amount and in a timely manner. Vegetables require a good water availability in soil during their entire cycle. Thus, it is very important the implementation of an irrigation management and accurate estimation of water requirement. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of five irrigation depths estimated by the dual-Kc and single-Kc methodologies on the characteristics of growth, production and water use efficiency in the pepper crop. A randomized block design was adopted in a split plot arrangement. The effect of five irrigation depths (50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% of crop evapotranspiration - ETc) was evaluated in the plots, and the methodologies were evaluated in the subplots. It was evaluated the root dry matter, total fruit production, leaf temperature, number of aborted flowers and water use efficiency. The interaction between both effects was not significant for any of the variables. The effect of methodology was observed only on the number of aborted flowers. The effect of the irrigation depths was significant on all variables. The irrigation depths that lead to the best agronomic characteristics were superior to 100% of ETc. The ratio between the irrigation depths estimated by single-Kc and dual-Kc methodologies was 1.14. Single-Kc methodology and irrigation depth of 143% ETc were more suitable for the horticulturist. The most efficient irrigation depth in the use of water was 105% ETc.