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Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation

After completing this lesson, you have learned to answer What characteristics of chili pepper contribute to its adaptation to dry conditions? What is the amount of water required for good crop of chili pepper ?

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Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation

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  1. After completing this lesson, you have learned to answer • What characteristics of chili pepper contribute to its adaptation to dry conditions? • What is the amount of water required for good crop of chili pepper ? • List the important growth stages when soil moisture stress affects chili pepper crop? • What practices help in conserving soil moisture in chili pepper cultivation? • What will be the problem with continuous rains during grain filling stage? Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Lesson 1: Soil Moisture Relationships

  2. The evolution of chili pepper under the pressures of drought and high temperatures lead the crop to adjust to drier climates. Chili pepper is grown in areas with average annual rainfall of 40 to 100 cm. Chili pepper is adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions but is not particularly adapted to drought. Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Lesson 1: Soil Moisture Relationships

  3. It has a number of morphological and physiological characteristics that contribute to its adaptation to dry conditions, like: • extensive root system, • waxy bloom on the leaves that reduces water loss, and • the ability to stop growth in periods of drought, and resume it again when conditions become favorable. Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Lesson 1: Soil Moisture Relationships

  4. Roots are normally concentrated in the top 90 cm of soil but may extend to twice that depth and to 1.5 m in lateral spread. The stem is solid, usually erect. Its center can be dry or juicy, insipid or sweet to taste. The center of the stem can become pithy with spaces. Leaves vary in number from 7–24, depending on the cultivar. Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Lesson 1: Soil Moisture Relationships

  5. Chili pepper is called water sipping crop as it uses water very efficiently. Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Lesson 1: Soil Moisture Relationships

  6. Chili pepper is a natural replacement for less water efficient crops; an example being when 500 mm or less of water is available during the growing season chili pepper will be favored over maize for better yield. Chili pepper is also tolerant to water logging and can be grown in high rainfall areas. Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Lesson 1: Soil Moisture Relationships

  7. Water (soil moisture) is the most common limiting factor for better yields in chili pepper production. Chili pepper crop need 450 to 650 mm of water over the season for a high-yielding crop. This can come from either rain, irrigation or stored soil moisture. Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Lesson 1: Soil Moisture Relationships

  8. However it is not the total amount of moisture that the crop receives that is most important. Timing of rainfall or irrigation can have a dramatic effect on both crop yield and quality. Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Lesson 1: Soil Moisture Relationships

  9. The critical growth stages of chili pepper in relation to water requirement are: • Initiation of grand growth stage 20-25 DAS • Flag-leaf stage or boot stage       50-55 DAS • Flowering stage                             70-75  DAS • Grain-filling stage                          90-100 DAS  (DAS: Days after sowing)    Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Lesson 1: Soil Moisture Relationships

  10. The water absorbed by chili pepper during the first month after sowing is relatively small. Hence the very early growth phase after seedling emergence is not highly sensitive to moisture stress. The period of 40 to 85 days after sowing when flowering and grain formation stages are very sensitive to moisture stress. Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Lesson 1: Soil Moisture Relationships

  11. Very often chili pepper crop experiences soil moisture stress when rains fail during the monsoon season. Practices like contour cultivation in a sloping field, soil mulching, intercultivation, and good weed control help in soil moisture conservation to face failure of rains during the crop growth. Spraying 2% urea at the times of soil moisture stress experienced by crop also helps to overcome moisture stress. Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Lesson 1: Soil Moisture Relationships

  12. With this, the Lesson 1 on soil moisture relationships in chili pepper cultivation in this Module concludes. The next Lesson in this Module, is about irrigation practices in chili pepper cultivation. Click “Lessons” button to select Lesson 2 Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Lesson 1: Soil Moisture Relationships

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