This study was conducted at Enchete kebele in Benna-Tsemay Woreda, South Omo Zone to evaluate the response of hot pepper to deficit irrigation on yield and water productivity under furrow irrigation system. The experiment comprised four treatments (100 % of ETc, 85% of ETc, 70 % of ETc and 50% of ETc), respectively. The experiment was laid out in RCBD and replicated four times. The two years combined yield results indicated that, the maximum total yield (20.38 t/ha) was obtained from 100% ETc while minimum yield (12.92 t/ha) was obtained from 50% of ETc deficit irrigation level. The highest WUE 5.22 kg/ha mm-1 was obtained from 50% of ETc. Treatment of 100% ETc irrigation application had highest benefit cost ratio (4.5) than all others treatments. Applying 50% of ETc reduce the yield by 37% when compared to 100 % ETc. Accordingly, to achieve maximum hot pepper yield in areas where water is not scarce, applying 100% ETc irrigation water application level throughout whole growing season under furrow irrigation system is recommended. But, in the study area water scarcity is the major limiting factor for crop production. So, it is possible to get better yield and water productivity of hot pepper when we apply 85% ETc irrigation water throughout growing season under furrow irrigation system.
2. Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatsemay Woreda, Southern Ethiopia
Medihin and Tadesse 306
Benna-Tsemay Woreda is one district of South Omo Zone
in Southern Region of Ethiopia where due to low and
erratic rainfall; chronic drought and water scarcity is
observed recurrently and upsetting agricultural
productivity. The economy of the district is highly
dependent on agriculture (livestock and crop production),
which is in turn dependent on the availability of erratic
rainfall and scarce water resources. As result, there was
competition for water use between inhabitants for livestock
as well as crop production. On the other hand, lack of
improved small scale irrigation technologies, less irrigation
water management practices and inadequate research
supports are a major problem for efficient irrigation water
use and agricultural production improvement in the area
(Mugoro et al., 2020).
The scarce water resources availability, growing
competitions for water use and inefficient on-farm irrigation
management practices during crop production in the area
will reduce water availability for irrigated agriculture, then
endangering food supplies and aggravating rural poverty.
Thus, achieving greater water use efficiency will be a
primary challenge in the near future in the study area. This
calls the use of suitable techniques and practices that
deliver a more accurate supply of water to crops.
Deficit irrigation is one of the options and practices
currently preferred in many parts of the world to maximize
productivity per unit of water used in dry areas. Also, it is
believed to improve water productivity without causing
severe yield reductions; which the crop is exposed to a
certain level of water stress either during a particular
period or throughout the whole growing season. However,
this option was not practically and scientifically
experienced in the study area. Hence, practically
investigating the effect of deficit irrigation on yield and
water productivity of irrigated hot pepper was found to be
important to utilize the limited water resource of the area
without severely affecting the crop yield. Therefore, the
objective of this study was to identify the level of deficit
irrigation which allows achieving optimum yield and water
use efficiency on hot pepper.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Description of Study Area
The experimental site is situated in the eastern part of
Benna-Tsemay Woreda at Enchete kebele a distance of 82
km away from Jinka town, capital of South Omo Zone,
Southern Ethiopia. Geographically, the experimental site is
located at 5˚18’0’’ to 5˚31’33’’ N latitude and 36˚52’30’’ to
37˚5’0’’ E longitude, and at an altitude of 550 m above sea
level. Agro-ecology of study area was arid and semi-arid
with mean monthly maximum and minimum temperature
of 38°c and 18°c, respectively and average rainfall pattern
of 200 -578 mm.
Figure 2.1: Study Area Map
Experimental Design
The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block
design and four level treatments with four replications. The
treatment was conducted under furrow irrigation method.
The treatments were 100% ETc (full level), 85% of ETc,
70% of ETc and 50 % of ETc. The experimental field was
divided into 16 plots and each plot size was 4m by 5m
dimension. Space between rows and plants were 70 cm
and 30 cm respectively.
3. Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatsemay Woreda, Southern Ethiopia
World Res. J. Agric. Sci. 307
Crop Data
Maximum effective root zone depth (Rz) of hot pepper
ranges between 0.5 -1m and has allowable soil water
depletion fraction (P) of 0.25 (Andreas et al., 2002). Hot
Pepper average Kc value was obtained from FAO
irrigation and drainage paper (Allen et al., 1998). Yield data
like marketable yield, unmarketable yield, total yield and
other agronomic parameters were measured in the field.
Crop Water Determination
In this experiment, reference crop evapotranspiration
(ETo) on daily basis was estimated by using FAO
CropWAT software version 8.0 (Allen et al., 1998). The
input data used to compute the ETo, was altitude, latitude,
longitude and 20-years (1997-2016) climatic data of
Weyito experimental site (monthly maximum and
minimum temperature, relative humidity, wind speed,
sunshine hours and rainfall) which was collected from
National Meteorological Agency Hawassa Branch
Directorate.
Then, ETc = ETo x Kc …………………..2.1
Where: ETc = crop evapotranspiration, Kc = crop
coefficient, and ETo = reference evapotranspiration.
Irrigation Water Requirements
Effective rainfall (Pe) which is part of the rainfall that
entered into the soil and made available for crop
production in mm. The effective rainfall can be calculated
from the expression (Brouwer and Heibloem, 1986):
Pe = 0.8 P – 25 if P > 75 mm/month.……2.2
Or
Pe = 0.6 P - 10 if p < 75 mm/month…...…2.3
Irrigation Schedule
The amount of water that can be extracted by plant roots
is held in the soil in an ‘available’ form. The actual volume
of water that can be obtained from the soil profile depends
on the depth of the root system. All of the water found in
the root zone may not be actually taken up by roots (Allen
et al., 1998). Hence, the total available water (TAW),
stored in a unit volume of soil, is approximated by taking
the difference between the water content at field capacity
(FC) and at permanent wilting point (PWP). Therefore, the
total available water was expressed by (Jaiswal, 2003):
TAW = (FC – PWP)* BD*Dz. …2.4
100
Where, TAW is total available water in mm/m, FC is field
capacity and PWP is permanent welting point in percent
(%) on weight basis, BD is the bulk density of the soil in
gm/cm3 and Dz is the maximum effective root zone depth
of hot pepper in mm.
As revealed by FAO (1996), hot pepper is sensitive to
water deficit and thus, for high yield, soil water depletion
should not exceed 25% of the total available water (that is
p = 0.25). Also, for maximum crop production, the irrigation
schedule was fixed based on readily available soil water
(RAW). The RAW is the amount of water that crops can
extract from the root zone without experiencing any water
stress. Therefore, RAW was computed from the
expression (Allen et al., 1998):
RAW = p * TAW …………………. 2.5
Where, RAW is readily available soil water in (mm), p is in
fraction for allowable or permissible soil moisture depletion
for no stress (for hot pepper P = 0.25) and TAW is total
available water in (mm). Considering the daily ETc, TAW,
Dz and p, the irrigation interval was computed from the
expression (FAO, 2009):
Interval (days) =
RAW
ETc
….................2.6
Where, RAW in mm and ETc in mm/day. Moreover, depth
of irrigation (dnet) is amount of irrigation water that is to be
applied at one irrigation and the readily available portion of
the soil moisture (Demba, 2014). Accordingly; readily
available soil water is the same as the net irrigation water
application depth (dnet).
Irrigation Application Efficiency and Gross Irrigation
Application Depth
Furrow irrigation could reach a field application efficiency
of 65% when it is properly designed, constructed and
managed. The average varies from 50% to70%. However,
the more common figure is 60% (FAO, 2002). Moreover,
the application efficiency of a short, end diked furrow is
taken as 60% (Brouwer and Prins, 1989). Hence, for this
particular experiment, irrigation efficiency was taken as
60% which is common for surface irrigation method in
furrow irrigation. Based on net irrigation depth and
irrigation application efficiency, the gross irrigation water
requirement was calculated by the following formula
(Brouwer and Prins, 1989):
dg =
dnet
Ea
…...…………………2.7
Where, dg is the gross irrigation depth in mm and Ea is the
field irrigation application efficiency (60%). This calculated
gross irrigation water was finally applied to experimental
plots based on the treatment of the experiment.
Irrigation Application Time
The amount of irrigation water to be applied at each
irrigation application was measured using 3-inch Parshall
flume. The time required to deliver the desired depth of
water into each plot was calculated using the equation
(Kandiah, 1981):
4. Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatsemay Woreda, Southern Ethiopia
Medihin and Tadesse 308
t =
dg×A
6×Q
................................................2.8
Where: dg = gross depth of water applied (cm),
t = application time (min),
A = Area of experimental plot (m2) and
Q = flow rate (discharge) (l/s)
The irrigation depth was converted to volume of water by
multiplying it with area of the plot (Valipour, 2012).
V = A* dg .…………...............................2.9
Where: V = Volume of water in (m3)
A = Area of plot (m2)
dg = Gross irrigation water applied (m)
Water Use Efficiency
The water use efficiency was calculated by dividing
harvested yield in kg per unit volume of water used in m3.
The crop water use efficiency is the yield harvested in kg
per ha-mm of total water used.
WUE =
Y(
kg
ha
)
ETc(mm)
…………………….2.10
Where: WUE = crop water use efficiency (kg/ha-mm), Y =
bulb yield in kg ha-1 and
ETc = Crop evapotranspiration (mm)
Data Collection
Amount of applied water per each irrigation event was
measured using calibrated Parshall flume. During
harvesting stand count, weight of marketable fresh fruit
yield, fruit number of marketable yield, unmarketable fruit
weight and unmarketable fruit number were measured
from the net harvested area of each plot.
Statistical Analysis
The collected data were analyzed using Statistical
Agricultural Software (SAS 9.0) and least significance
difference (LSD) was employed to see a mean difference
between treatments and the data collected was statistically
analyzed following the standard procedures applicable for
RCBD with single factor. The treatment means that were
different at 5% levels of significance were separated using
LSD test.
Partial Budget Analysis
Grain yield data were economically evaluated using partial
and marginal analysis for the feasibility of watering, labor
and fertilizer application. In order to determine the
profitability of hot pepper marketable yield produced from
the different deficit irrigation levels, the following
parameters were estimated:
GM = TR – TVC……………………… 2.11
Where: GM = Gross margin (ETB/ha)
TR = Total revenue (ETB/ha)
TVC = Total variable cost (ETB/ha)
Return/Birr invested = GM/Total fixed cost …….2.12
NR = GM – TFC
Where: NR = Net return (ETB/ha)
TFC = Total fixed cost (ETB/ha)
TCP = TVC + TFC…………………….…2.13
Benefit-Cost ratio = NR/TFC……………2.14
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Soil Characterization of Experimental Site
The result of laboratory soil analyses and field tests on
physical and chemical characteristic, like, soil texture, BD,
FC, PWP, soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic
carbon (OC) content, organic matter (OM) content and soil
infiltration rate were discussed below.
Soil Physical Properties
The result of the soil textural analysis from the
experimental site was presented in Table 3. The texture
(40.8% sand, 32% silt, 27.2% clay), (38% sand, 38% silt,
24% clay), (45.6% sand, 30.8% silt, 23.6% clay) at a depth
of 0 – 20 cm, 20 – 40 cm, 40 – 60 cm, respectively. Thus,
according to USDA soil textural classification system, the
soil of the experimental field could be classified as loam at
all depths.
Table 1: Particle size distribution of the experimental site
Depth
(cm)
Particle size distribution (%) Textural
Class
Sand Clay Silt
0 – 20 40.8 27.2 32.0 Loam
20 – 40 38.0 24.0 38.0 Loam
40 – 60 45.6 23.6 30.8 Loam
Average 41.5 24.9 33.6 Loam
5. Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatsemay Woreda, Southern Ethiopia
World Res. J. Agric. Sci. 309
Texture may affect the ease with which soil can be worked,
the amount of water and air it holds and the rate at which
water can enter and move through the soil. However, loam
soils are best suited for crop production because sand, silt
and clay together provide desirable characteristics
(NRMD, 2011). The bulk density (BD), total available water
(TAW), water content at field capacity (FC) and permanent
wilting point (PWP) values were presented in Table 2.
Table 2. Bulk densities, field capacity, permanent welting point and TAW of the soil
Depth
(cm)
BD
(g/cm3)
FC
(%)
PWP
(%)
TAW
(mm/depth)
TAW
(mm/m)
0 – 20 1.26 29.31 12.78 41.66 208.28
20 – 40 1.28 28.13 12.46 40.11 200.55
40 – 60 1.31 26.04 10.72 40.15 200.74
Average 1.28 27.83 11.98 40.64 203.18
The average soil bulk density is (1.28 g/cm3) and which
was in suitable range for crop growth (NRMD, 2011). The
average total available water (TAW) of experimental site
was found to be 203.2 mm/m which was nearly upper
range of loam soil (140 to 220 mm/m) (Majumdar, 2000).
The average soil infiltration rate and the cumulative intake
curves based on the test result of the soil were presented.
The basic infiltration rate of the soil was about 27.3 mm/hr.
This rate of infiltration is the characteristic of loam soils
(Brouwer and Heibloem, 1986).
Soil Chemical Properties
As indicated in Table 3, the average pH value of the
experimental site through the analyzed depth was found to
be nearly alkaline, with average value of 7.83. The soil had
an average electrical conductivity of 0.182 dS/m through
60 cm profile which is below the threshold value for yield
reduction, i.e. 1.2 dS/m (Smith et al., 2011).The OM
content and OC content of the soil had average values of
2.67% and 1.55%, respectively which indicates high soil
fertility level (OC > 1%) and suitable for vegetable
production (Basu, 2011).
Table 3: Soil chemical properties of the experimental site
Depth
(cm)
pH ECe
(dS/m)
OC
(%)
OM
(%)
0 – 20 7.69 0.210 1.43 2.46
20 – 40 7.93 0.173 1.65 2.85
40 – 60 7.87 0.178 1.58 2.72
Average 7.83 0.182 1.55 2.67
Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Hot Pepper
The combined result in (Table 2) shows that plant height
was significantly affected by deficit irrigation level in
cropping seasons. The highest plant height (85.75cm) was
obtained in full irrigation level, while the lowest (72.43cm)
was obtained within 50% deficit level. From these results
it is clearly seen that as the deficit irrigation level
decreased, the plant height also decreased. This result is
in agreement with the findings of Aklilu (2009) and Takele
(2009) who reported that the plant height of pepper
decreased with decreased irrigation level. The result
revealed that the effects of deficit irrigation level resulted
significant variation in marketable fresh fruit yield. Higher
marketable fresh fruit yield (18.14 t/ha) was obtained from
full irrigation level where as the lowest marketable fruit
yield (11.72 t/ha) was obtained from 50% of ETc. The
result of unmarketable fresh fruit yields was significantly
affected by deficit irrigation level whereas between 70% of
ETc and 50% of ETc there was no significant difference.
Total fresh fruit yield of hot pepper significantly affected by
deficit irrigation levels. Higher total fresh fruit yield (20.38
t/ha) was obtained from 100% ETc where as the lowest
total fresh fruit yield (12.92 t/ha) was obtained from 50%
ETc.
Table 4: The combined ANOVAs table of effects of deficit irrigation levels on fresh fruit yield and other yield
parameters of hot pepper
Treatment Plant
Height
(cm)
Marketable
yield
(t/ha)
Unmarketable
yield
(t/ha)
Total yield
(t/ha)
100% ETc 85.75a 18.14a 2.24a 20.38a
85% of ETc 80.00ab 16.64b 1.84b 18.49b
70% of ETc 76.55bc 14.28c 1.43c 15.71c
50% of ETc 72.43c 11.72d 1.20c 12.92d
6. Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatsemay Woreda, Southern Ethiopia
CV (%) 8.50 9.02 17.35 7.15
LSD (0.05) 6.86 1.40 0.31 1.24
*Means with the same letter (s) are not significantly different at P ≤ 0.05; LSD = least significant difference; CV = Coefficient
of variation.
Amount of Applied Water, Water Use Efficiency and
Water Saved
The combined result (Table 5) shows that the highest WUE
was obtained in 50% of ETc while the lowest WUE was
obtained in control 100% ETc. The results of this finding
were in agreement with Saleh, (2010) and Adel et al.,
(2014) who reported that WUE values decreased with
increasing irrigation water. Accordingly, when the deficit
level increases the water productivity increases and, the
yield and yield components decreases.
Table 5: Applied water, water use efficiency, water saved and percent yield reduction
Treatment Total yield
(t/ha)
AW
(mm)
WUE
(kg/ha/mm)
Yield reduction (%) Water saved
(%)
100%ETc 20.38 499.2 40.8 0 0
85% of ETc 18.49 424.6 43.5 10 15
70% of ETc 15.71 349.7 44.9 23 30
50% of ETc 12.92 247.3 52.2 37 50
AW = Applied water and WUE = Crop water use efficiency
Economic Analysis
The cost benefit analysis depicted that the highest total
cost (24662 ETB/ha) and the lowest (24351 ETB/ha) was
incurred when 100% ETc and 50% ETc water applied
respectively. The highest gross margin (117,712.9
ETB/ha) and the least (69,798.93 ETB/ha) was obtained
from the 100% ETc and 50% water stress respectively.
Furthermore the highest net return (111,462.9 ETB/ha)
was recorded by full level, while the least net return
(63,548.93 ETB/ha) was obtained by 50% water deficit.
The highest of benefit -cost ratio 4.5 was recorded by
100% ETc of water application.
Table 6: Partial budget analysis of hot pepper fresh marketable yield in response to deficit irrigation
Treatments TY
Qt/ha
TR
(ETB/ha)
TVC
(ETB/ha)
TFC
(ETB/ha)
TCP
(ETB/ha)
GM
(ETB/ha)
Return
(ETB)
NR
(ETB/ha)
BC
ratio
100%ETc 181.5 136125 18412 6250 24662 117713 18.8 111463 4.5
85% ETc 166.5 124875 18318 6250 24569 106556 17 100306 4.08
70% ETc 142.8 107100 18225 6250 24475 88875 14.2 82624.6 3.37
50% ETc 117.2 87900 18101 6250 24351 69799 11.16 63549 2.61
*TR= total revenue (ETB/ha), TVC = Total variable cost (ETB/ha), TFC = Total fixed cost (ETB/ha), TCP = Total cost of
production (ETB/ha), GM = Gross margin (ETB/ha), NR = Net return (ETB/ha) and BCR = Benefit cost ratio, ETB =
Ethiopian birr and ha = hectare
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION
From the study it was observed that the highest yield was
obtained from the treatment grown with no-stress (100%
ETc) while the lowest was obtained from half of full
irrigation level (50% of ETc). The severe reduction in total
yield of 50% ETc was due to the low soil moisture through
growth stage. The indicated that, the amount of saved
water sharply increased by increasing deficit irrigation
levels. That is producing about 63% of total fresh fruit yield
led to save 50% of irrigation water, producing about 77%
of the total fresh fruit yield saved about 30% of irrigation
water, while producing about 90% of total fresh fruit yield
led to save 15% of irrigation water.
In conclusion, deficit irrigation could be a feasible irrigation
technique for hot pepper production where the benefit from
saving large amounts of water. Thus, the result indicates
that the appropriate and economically viable way of
applying 100% ETc in areas were no water stress required
to increased production and productivity of hot pepper. As
an option applying 85% ETc of irrigation in water stress
areas was optimum means to increase production and
productivity of hot pepper without affecting yield.
REFERENCES
Adel F. Ahmed, Hongjun Yu, Xueyong Yang, and Weijie
Jiang, 2014. Deficit Irrigation Affects Growth, Yield,
Vitamin C Content, and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of
Hot Pepper Grown in Soilless Culture. HORTSCIENCE
49(6):722–728. 2014.
Aklilu, M. 2009. Effects of mulching and depth of irrigation
application on water use efficiency and productivity of
pepper under gravity drip irrigation, MSc. Thesis,
Department of Irrigation Engineering, Haramaya
University, Ethiopia.
Allen, R., Pereira, L.A., Raes, D. and Smith, M. 1998. Crop
evapotranspitation. Irrigation and
Drainage Paper No. 56. FAO, Rome.