Chilli is an important vegetable crop of India and is grown for its pungent fruits, which are used both green and ripe to impart pungency and colour to the food. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of chilli. The yield of chilli under conventional method of cultivation is very low and it can be increased by improved agronomic practices. Among the agronomic practices, nutrient management plays a vital role in determining the yield and quality of chilli. Fertigation is a recent innovative method, by which fertilizers are applied along with irrigation water through drip system to get higher fertilizer use efficiency besides increased yields. Chilli crop requires a balanced fertilizer management for normal growth and development of the crop. It is a heavy feeder of nutrients and higher yield can be sustained only through the application of nutrients at optimum doses in balanced proportion. Moreover, the nutrient requirement of hybrid chilli is high as compared to varieties, which also varies with the growth stages of the crop. Among the various factors responsible for high yield, the use of appropriate quantity of nutrients at proper time plays a vital role in enhancing the productivity. Hence, planning the nutrient supply according to the phenological stages of development may result in high yield with quality produce. In this context, fertigation technology plays a key role to achieve higher productivity and nutrient efficiency.
Chilli, drip fertigation, nutrient use efficiency, yield, fertilizers
Chilli is an important vegetable crop of India and is grown for its pungent fruits, which are used both green and ripe to impart pungency and colour to the food. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of chilli. The yield of chilli under conventional method of cultivation is very low and it can be increased by improved agronomic practices. Among the agronomic practices, nutrient management plays a vital role in determining the yield and quality of chilli. Fertigation is a recent innovative method, by which fertilizers are applied along with irrigation water through drip system to get higher fertilizer use efficiency besides increased yields. Chilli crop requires a balanced fertilizer management for normal growth and development of the crop. It is a heavy feeder of nutrients and higher yield can be sustained only through the application of nutrients at optimum doses in balanced proportion. Moreover, the nutrient requirement of hybrid chilli is high as compared to varieties, which also varies with the growth stages of the crop. Among the various factors responsible for high yield, the use of appropriate quantity of nutrients at proper time plays a vital role in enhancing the productivity. Hence, planning the nutrient supply according to the phenological stages of development may result in high yield with quality produce. In this context, fertigation technology plays a key role to achieve higher productivity and nutrient efficiency.
