Responses of phenology, yield attributes and early yield of drip irrigated sweet pepper under low tunnels

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of low tunnels and drip irrigation on the phenological development, yield attributes, and early yield of sweet pepper. The study aims to provide insights into the potential benefits of these agricultural practices in enhancing productivity and ensuring early yields. The research was conducted over a specified period, and the findings suggest significant positive responses in phenology, yield attributes and early yield of sweet pepper under the combined application of drip irrigation and low tunnels. Remarkably, our experiments unveiled that the I1H2 treatment regime yielded the most accelerated phenological milestones, with days to flowering, fruit initiation, and fruit maturity occurring within a mere 80.13, 86.20, and 113.4 days, respectively. Conversely, the I5H1 treatment exhibited the longest duration for these developmental stages, extending to 98.26, 105.60, and 127.2 days, respectively. Moreover, among the various tunnel heights and irrigation treatments studied, it was observed that the H2 and I2 treatments consistently outperformed their counterparts in terms of fruit yield per plant, fruit length, and girth. This underscores the significant influence exerted by both irrigation strategies and tunnel heights on these critical yield attributes.