Drip fertigation for enhancing nutrient uptake in chilli

Field investigations were carried out at the college orchard, AC&RI, Madurai, Tamil Nadu during Kharif 2007 and summer 2008 to elicit information on the effect of drip fertigation on growth, physiological, nutrient uptake and yield of chillies cv. KKM-1. The experiments were laid out in RBD with 3 replications and 9 treatments. The recommended dose of fertilizer for chilli is 120: 60: 30 kg NPK ha-1. Application of drip fertigation of 100 per cent RDF as water soluble fertilizer along with bio stimulants (T9) increased the growth parameters like plant height, number of primary and secondary branches, physiological parameters like leaf area index, total chlorophyll content, CGR, RGR, dry matter production, yield parameters like no. of flower/plant, no. of fruits/plant, fruit length, fruit girth, fresh fruit yield/plant, dry pod yield/plant, dry pod yield/ha, nutrient uptake N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu and Fe in plant at different stages of crop growth. Hence, from the results of this experiment, it is concluded that drip fertigation of 100 per cent water soluble fertilizer along with bio stimulants is highly profitable and economically viable for the cultivation of chillies.