IRRIGATION REGIMES AFFECT YIELD AND WATER-USE BY BELL PEPPER

'Keystone Resistant Giant' bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was grown in drainage lysimeters under controlled soil water regimes during 1982,1984, and 1985. Three irrigation regimes were imposed on bell pepper grown on two soil types during spring and fall growing seasons. Irrigation regimes consisted of applying water when the soil water tension at 10 cm exceeded 25, 50, or 78 kPa during crop growth. Yields and water use were greatest when irrigation was applied at 25 kPa. Regression equations are presented to describe the relationships of water use to plant age and to compute the ratios of daily evapotranspiration to pan evaporation (crop factors) for bell pepper grown under the three irrigation regimes.