Optimal agricultural water allocation for enhanced productivity of hot pepper (Capsicum annum L) and economic gain: an experimental study from Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to determine the irrigation scheduling effect on hot pepper green pods, yield attributes, and irrigation water productivity (WP) in the Arba Minch area. Field trials comprised five levels of treatments: 140 % MAD, 120% MAD, 100% MAD, 80% MAD and 60% MAD. The results revealed that different depletion levels had significantly affected hot pepper’s yield and related attributes. The maximum yield of hot pepper was observed under 100% MAD without significant variation of 120% MAD whereas the minimum was under 140% MAD in both years of experimentation. WP was also highly influenced by depletion, and the maximum water productivity of (24.67 kg/ha-mm, 24.72 kg/ha-mm was observed under 120% MAD and minimum (19.26 kg/ha-mm, 16.49 kg/ha-mm) under 60% MAD in the year 2019 and 2021, respectively. The results revealed that as the level of depletion increased, irrigation frequency (event) increased, yield and water productivity decreased of hot peppers. 120% MAD offered the highest economic return (11,795.96 US$) and saved water, wage, and irrigation events compared to more frequent applications. The current findings showed that applying 120% MAD is better for hot pepper production in the Arba Minch areas and similar ecology.

Keywords:

• Soil water balance
• depletion
• water demand
• water productivity
• irrigation event

Subjects:

• Agriculture & Environmental Sciences
• Agriculture and Food
• Agriculture

Reviewing Editor:

• Manuel Tejada
• University of Seville
• Spain

Acknowledgments

Authors highly recognize and appreciate the Southern Agricultural Research Institute for Budgetary support and the Arba Minch Agricultural Research Centre for logistic and other administrative support. And also appreciate Chano Mile Kebelle Agricultural agents and other administrative bodies for providing experimental land and allowing irrigation water.

Author contributions

For this research, Gezimu Gelu contributed in stages (proposal development, experimental work, data analysis and draft preparation and final manuscript, Alemnesh Ayza contributed in filed work and data collection, Chanako Dane contributed in experimentation, data collection and organization, and Markos Habtewold contributed in data collection during first year of field experiment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data of this experimental work will be provided up on reasonable request for research purposes. The data will be shared via email address of corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

The authors appreciate Southern Agricultural Research Institute for financing this research work with Grant code SARI/GOV-Irr-08/2021.