Growth analysis of Capsicum annuum L. under different irrigation regimes

Growth analysis techniques were adopted to characterize the pepper response under well watered (WWT) and water stressed (ST) treatments, along with a treatment irrigated as WWT after an initial drought period (RT). Five growth analysis parameters were evaluated through statistical curve fittings: crop growth rate (CGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), leaf area ratio (LAR), relative growth rate (RGR) and leaf area duration (LAD). In 1988, pepper plants cv. Sonar were sampled at week intervals; they were grown in lysimeter, placed in the experimental station of the CNR Irrigation Institute at Ponticelli-Naples. Soil water deficit reduced dry matter accumulation, LAI and CGR all over the cycle; NAR and RGR appeared coincident with WWT curve from 70 days after transplanting. RT presented high dry matter accumulation per unit time (CGR) performed with high efficiency (high RGR), which was directed towards the leaves (high LAR) rather than the fruits. Despite this superior growth behavior, RT did not give a higher yield than WWT, because dry matter accumulation was postponed and addressed to leaves rather than fruits.