Effect of Different N and K Fertigation Levels of Capsicum (Capsicum annuum var. grossum L.) as Influenced by Nutrient Content of Capsicum under Poly House

Abstract

The experiment was carried out during rabi season of 2018-19 at Water Technology Centre, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad on capsicum (Capsicum annuum var. grossum L.) with respect to different nitrogen and potassium fertigation levels under poly house. The experiment comprised of three replications in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with two factors {i.e. N levels (4), K levels (3) } and twelve treatments Viz; N fertigation levels of 0 %, 120 % (216 kg N ha-1) , 150 % (270 kg N ha-1), 180 % (324 kg N ha-1) and K fertigation levels of 0 %, 80 % (96 kg K2O ha-1), 100% (120 kg K2O ha-1) respectively. The 100 % RDF was 180, 90 and 120 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1. The source of N was urea, P was single super phosphate (SSP) and K was white muriate of potash (MOP). The N and K were applied through drip fertigation on every fourth day during different crop growth stages. In the fertigation programme, during crop establishment stage (10 DAT to 14 DAT), 10 % of N and K2O were applied in two splits. During vegetative stage, (15 to 46 DAT) 30 % of N and 20 % of K2O were applied in eight splits. During flower initiation to fruit development (47 DAT to 74 DAT) 20 % of N and K2O were applied in seven splits. From fruit development till final harvesting stage (75 DAT  to 154 DAT) 40 % of N and 50 % K2O were applied in 20 splits in a total of 37 splits. The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam in texture with low in available nitrogen (166.5 kg ha-1), medium in available phosphorus (81.1 kg P2O5 ha-1) and low in available potassium (245.4 kg K2O ha-1). Irrigation was scheduled at 0.8 Epan based on pan evaporation data. The total water applied to the crop was 414.8 mm. The total nitrogen content in capsicum shoots ranged from 3.41 to 4.57 %, 4.29 to 6.35 %, 4.43 to 6.67%, 4.76 to 6.86% and 4.53 to 6.58% at 30, 60, 90, and 120 and at final harvest respectively. In fruits, it ranged from 4.11 to 6.49 %, 3.92 to 6.35%, 4.01 to 6.25 % at 90, 120 and at final harvest respectively. The total phosphorus content in capsicum shoots ranged from 0.13 to 0.23 %, 0.42 to 0.92%, 0.14 to 0.33%, 0.12 to 0.24% and 0.12 to 0.20% at 30, 60, 90, 120 and at final harvest respectively. In fruits it ranged from 0.20 to 0.59 %, 0.24 to 0.57 %, 0.26 to 0.70 % at 90, 120 and at final harvest respectively. The total potassium content in capsicum shoots ranged from 0.87 to 1.83 %, 1.77 to 2.65%, 1.50 to 2.23%, 0.96 to 1.54% and 0.83 to 1.38% at 30, 60, 90, 120 and at final harvest respectively. In fruits it ranged from 1.02 to 1.47%, 0.98 to 1.35%, 0.93 to 1.28% at 90, 120 and at final harvest respectively.