Enhancing Capsicum Production and Water Efficiency through Drip Irrigation in Rooftop Gardens

Abstract

Rooftop gardening has gained popularity as an urban agricultural method in various countries, including India. However, the high temperatures and increased evapotranspiration rates on rooftops require much higher water for crops compared to traditional ground-based farming which leads to a significant challenge in water management. To address these concerns, there is a need for cost-effective and efficient irrigation systems to improve production in urban rooftop gardens. An experiment was conducted at the Academic Building of the College of Agricultural Engineering, Ara, Bihar, from November 2024 to March 2025, to assess the performance of drip irrigation on the growth and yield of Indra Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.). The study was designed using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with six replications, and significant differences were observed across various treatment methods. The results showed that the drip irrigation system led to higher plant growth, including increased plant height, more leaves, flowers, and average fruits per plant (21.3), as well as improved fruit length (67.2 mm), fruit weight (79.81g), and overall yield per plant (3.52 kg/plant). Compared to conventional irrigation methods, drip irrigation saved approximately 75%-80% of water, with a water use efficiency of 9.2 kg/m³. Additionally, the yield of Indra Capsicum was found to increase by 10-15% under drip irrigation, surpassing the potential yield observed with traditional methods. Overall, the drip irrigation system proved to be an effective solution for enhancing Capsicum production in rooftop gardens, demonstrating both water conservation and increased yield.