RESPONSE OF SOILLESS COLOURED CAPSICUM UNDER DIFFERENT IRRIGATION STRATEGIES IN GREENHOUSERavindra D Randhe, Murtaza Hasan, D.K. Singh, S. Naresh Kumar, Pramod Kumar and Wasi AlamAbstract Experiment was conducted to evaluate the weight based fertigation strategies in soilless coloured capsicum under greenhouse. Weight based sensing system was developed to continuously monitor water loss from grow bag and plants by transpiration for fertigation scheduling. The experiment was conducted using treatments comprised of T1, where the weight loss of growing media and plants by transpiration was fully replenished by nutrient solution; T2, T3 and T4, which received 10% 20% and 30% less amount of nutrient solution, respectively as compared to T1 treatment. The plant height (104 cm) and leaf area (3353.352 cm2) was observed significantly higher in the treatment (T1) which received 100% fertigation against the weight loss. Dry biomass and root parameters were found higher in the T1 treatment. Significantly higher capsicum yield (61.716 t/ha), and kg of fruit/plant (1.543 kg/plant) were observed in T1 treatment compared to other treatments. Water use efficiency was found significantly higher in treatment T1 (296.23 kg/ha mm) and lowest (199.954 kg/ha mm) in case of T4 treatment. Fertigation strategy which received the 100% nutrient solution against the weight loss without drainage, allowed the plant to grow with maximum yield and water use efficiency (WUE). Therefore, the 100% or more nutrient solution against weight loss could be a suitable strategy for controlling the fertigation scheduling through the weight based sensing system. |