EFECTO DEL RIEGO DEFICITARIO Y DIFERENTES FRECUENCIAS EN LA PRODUCCIÓN DEL CULTIVO DE PIMENTÓN

Deficit irrigation is an alternative tool that allows the rational use of water applied, with minimal impact on the production. This present study aimed to estimate the effect of water deficit with different frequencies of irrigation in the production of bell pepper crop using drip irrigation. The trial was carried out in the experimental station field of the National Agricultural Research Institute (IIAP-ULA), Merida, Venezuela. The treatments consisted in the applications of two sheets of continuous deficit irrigation at 60%ETc and 80%Etc, compared with a control treatment of 100%Etc, and two frequencies of irrigation daily or each two days. The irrigation schedule was established on the basis of the class A evaporation pan method. The experimental design was a randomized block, in a 3x2 factorial arrangement (irrigation levels and irrigation frequencies), with four replications. The plots were made of three rows (3x33m), and the planting density was 2.5 plants/m^sup 2^ (0.4x1.0m).