Sept 10 – 16 2006, PWTC, Kuala Lumpur

RED PEPPER PRODUCTION UNDER FERTIGATION IN HUNGARY

Maria BIRONE ONCSIK and Laszlo NAGY

ABSTRACT

Field experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 2003 at the Research Institute
for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Irrigation, Szarvas to study the effect of fertigation with different
levels of N fertilizer for red pepper (Capsicum annuum L. convar. longum /DC/Terpo) in
meadow soil. The objectives of this work were to compare the conventional fertilization method
with fertigation, to evaluate the nitrogen use efficiency by both methods of application, and
to determine the quantity and quality of yield as affected by methods and rates of N
application.The following five urea fertilizer treatments were tested: N0, N50%, N100%,
N100%S, N150%. In subplots treatments, urea with 5% of 15N enrichment was used. (Halitligil
et.al, 2002). The fresh yield of red pepper varied between 27,70 - 30,85 t ha-1 under
fertigation method and was significantly lower in the case of control (25,58 t ha-1). The total
N uptake of red pepper (without seeds and peduncle) increased with picking time. The highest
value was obtained from samples of the 2nd and 3rd harvest. The lowest total N uptake occurred
in control treatment. The fertilizer N uptake followed the similar trend as total N uptake (Oncsik
and Korosi, 2000).The fertilizer N utilization at the 4th har vests increased
with increasing N fertilizer until 100%. The value of NFUE (Nitrogen Fertilizer Use Efficiency)
was the highest for the N100% fertigation treatment. It reached 25,32% for red pepper.

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 7th International Micro Irrigation Congress

RED PEPPER PRODUCTION UNDER FERTIGATION IN HUNGARY

Maria BIRONE ONCSIK and Laszlo NAGY

ABSTRACT

Field experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 2003 at the Research Institute
for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Irrigation, Szarvas to study the effect of fertigation with different
levels of N fertilizer for red pepper (Capsicum annuum L. convar. longum /DC/Terpo) in
meadow soil.

The objectives of this work were to compare the conventional fertilization method with
fertigation, to evaluate the nitrogen use efficiency by both methods of application, and to
determine the quantity and quality of yield as affected by methods and rates of N application.

The following five urea fertilizer treatments were tested: N0, N50%, N100%, N100%S,
N150%. It was established 15N subplots in treatments, where we used urea with 5% of 15N
enrichment. The fresh yield of red pepper varied between 27,70 - 30,85 t ha-1 under fertigation
method and was significantly lower in the case of control (25,58 t ha-1). The total N uptake
of red pepper (without seeds and peduncle) was increased with picking time. The highest
value was determined in samples of the 2nd and 3rd harvest. The lowest total N uptake was
occurred in control treatment. The fertilizer N uptake followed the similar trend as total N
uptake.

The fertilizer N utilization by the yield of 4 harvests was increased with increasing N fertilizer
until 100%. The value of NFUE (Nitrogen Fertilizer Use Efficiency) was the highest for the
N100% fertigation treatment. It reached 25,32% for red pepper.

SUMMARIES AND CONCLUSIONS

INTRODUCTION

Irrigation has ever been an important factor in agricultural development. The area of land
under irrigation in the world has expanded substantially, particularly in the second half of
the last century. Between the mid-1960s and the mid-1980s, expansion of irrigation has
accounted for more than 50% increase in global food production (Qadir & Oster, 2003).

Maria Oncsik Birone, senior researcher, head of Centre of Environmental Labs

Research Institute for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Irrigation,
H-5541. Szarvas, Anna liget 8.
Tel: +36-66-216-544, Fax: +36-66-216-018.
Email: oncsikm@haki.hu, oncsikm@szarvas.hu.

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Although only approximately 17% of the world’s cropland is irrigated, it produces more than
a third of the food and fibre harvested throughout the world (Hillel,2000).

Fertigation has increased dramatically in the past 15 years, particularly for sprinkler and drip
systems. For drip systems, the expansion is mostly in horticultural and high value crops. In
agricultural areas with declining water supplies, drip systems have also increased. With
increased irrigation, a corresponding increase in fertigation has taken place. It will continue
to grow since such systems result in less water usage and better uniformity and lend themselves
to the technique much more readily than the less water- efficient and non-uniform furrow and
flood systems being replaced (Toth, 2000; Halitligil et al., 2000).

Application of fertilizers with irrigation water has several advantages over the traditional
methods. By fertigation, the time and rate of fertilizer applied can be regulated precisely
(Papadopulus, 1993; Singandhupe et al., 2003). This will also ensure the application of the
proper amount of N to the particular growth stage. This will improve the N use efficiency,
decrease leaching and volatilisation losses and minimize ground water contamination (Oncsik
& Korosi, 2000). In addition applying N fertilizer in the irrigation water is a more convenient
and less expensive method compared to the traditional methods (Schepers et al., 1995, Raun
& Johnson, 1999).

In Hungary arable lands covered 4,8 million hectares, of which 311,000 ha were developed
for irrigation. As a consequence of the semi-humid, semi-arid climate, pepper does not receive
the precipitation necessary to form the yield. Hungarian red pepper is famous all of the
Europe, the sowing area is about 8 000 ha. The average fresh yield is 10-18t ha-1. The water
consumption of planting pepper is 480-560 mm (Ligetvari, 2003).

The objectives of this work were to compare the conventional fertilization method with
fertigation, to evaluate the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by both methods of application, and
to determine the quantity and quality of yield as affected by methods and rates of N application.

MATERIALS & METHODS

The experimental design was a randomized complete block, with a plot size of 8x3 m2 and
with four replicates. For estimating important major plant nutrients, soil samples from 0 to
60 cm depth were collected from each plot and mixed thoroughly. The type of soil was meadow
with neutral pH. Available phosphorus and potassium content was estimated by ammonium-
lactate method (Buzas, 1993). The mean content of available P and K was high; therefore
we applied only 24 kg P ha-1 and 24 kg K ha-1. Other physical and chemical properties of
soils are given in the Table 1.

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Table 1. The chemical properties of soil, Szarvas

The following five nitrogen fertilizer treatments were tested: N0, N50%, N100%, N100%S,
N150%. Treatments included three N rates (81, 162 and 243 kg ha-1) injected into the water
and one soil application (162 kg ha-1). It was established 15N subplots in treatments, where
was used urea with 5% of 15N enrichment (IAEA Manual, 2001).

The 2003 year was dry season; during crop growing period total rainfall was 227 mm. The
data of precipitation, humidity, temperature and sunshine hours are summarized in the Table
2.

The amount of irrigated water was 317 mm. The date of irrigation and fertigation are
summarized in the Table 3. The amounts of N applied through the irrigation water were 0;
18,5; 37 and 55,5 kg ha-1 in each case.

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 Table 2. Data of the metrological parameters, Szarvas
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Table 3. The date of the irrigation and amount of irrigated water, Szarvas

At harvest, plant samples were taken from the main plots and subplots. The five middle whole
plants in each of the plots were collected and samples were sorted into different plant parts.
Samples then were oven dried at 60oC and weighed to get the dry matter for each sample.
Plant samples were analysed for nutrients and 15N content. The N content derived from fertilizer
(Ndff) and NFUE were calculated according to the IAEA Manual (2001). Total N was
determined by the Kjeldhal method.

At harvest the yield was recorded. At the case of red pepper the yield was sorted for marketable
and non-marketable pepper according to the local commercial criteria.

RESULTS & DISCUSSIONS

The data of marketable fresh yield of pepper is shown in Figure 1. The fresh yield (five harvests)
of paprika varied between 27,70 - 30,85 t ha-1 under fertigation method. The fresh yield of
pepper was significantly lower in the case of control (25,58 t ha-1).

The amount of total yield was showed the similar trend as the marketable yield (Figure 2).
The best result was recorded with the N100% treatment (41,68 t ha-1). The soil application
treatment gave the lowest value (35,42 t ha-1).

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In Figures 3 -4 the pieces of marketable and total yield production are presented. The highest
increase can be obtained with fertigation in relation to conventional fertilization. The pieces
of marketable yield of pepper ranged from 135,92 – 148,33 pc m2 underfertigation treatment.
The total fresh yield production ranged between 232,33 – 255,03 pc m-2 using fertigation
application.

Figure 1. The marketable fresh yield of red pepper, Szarvas

Figure 2. The total fresh yield of red pepper, Szarvas

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Figure 3. The pieces of marketable yield, Szarvas

Figure 4. The pieces of total yield of red pepper, Szarvas

Nitrogen utilization

The total N content, N derived from fertilizer and fertilizer N utilization was determined for
the yield of four harvests.The results are presented in Figures 5 – 6.

The total N uptake of pepper (without seeds and peduncle) was increased with picking time.
The highest value was determined in samples of the 2nd and 3rd harvest. The lowest total N
uptake was occurred in control treatment except of the 4th harvest (Fig. 5).

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Figure 5. The total N content of red pepper, Szarvas

The fertilizer N uptake followed the similar trend as the total N uptake. The value of Ndff
reached 0,68 g m-2 during the 3rd harvest, at N100% treatment (Fig. 6).

Figure 6. The content of N derived from fertilizer (Ndff) by red pepper, Szarvas

The results of N utilization are summarized in Table 4. The fertilizer N utilization by the yield
of 4 harvests was increased with increasing N fertilizer until the 100% treatment. The value
of NFUE was the highest at the N100% fertigation treatment. It reached 25,32% for red
pepper. Significant differences were obtained among fertigation
treatments.

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Table 4. The nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency by red pepper, Szarvas

CONCLUSIONS

We obtained that, the fresh yield of red pepper increased parallel with N fertilizer application
in each picking time. The fresh yield of red pepper varied between 27,70 - 30,85 t ha-1 under
fertigation method. The fresh yield of red pepper was significantly lower in the case of control
(25,58 t ha-1).

The N uptake of red pepper depended on the N treatments. The total N uptake of red pepper
(without seeds and peduncle) was increased with picking time. The highest value was determined
in samples of the 2nd and 3rd harvest. The lowest total N uptake was occurred in control
treatment except of the 4th harvest. The fertilizer N uptake followed the similar trend as total
N uptake.

The fertilizer N utilization by the yield of 4 harvests was increased with increasing N fertilizer
until 100%. The value of NFUE was the highest for the N100% fertigation treatment. It reached
25,32% for red pepper.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This work was carried out in the frame of FAO/IAEA Technical Project “Fertigation for Improved
Crop Production and Environmental Protection”. The financial support of the IAEA and
Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is greatly acknowledged.

REFERENCES

Buzas, I. 1993. Chemical analysis of soils. INDA 4231. Budapest. p. 357. (in Hungarian).

Halitligil, M. B., Akin, A. I., Kislal, H., Ozturk, A., Deviren, A. 2002. Yield, nitrogen uptake
and nitrogen use efficiency by tomato, pepper, cucumber, melon and eggplant as
effected by nitrogen rates applied with drip irrigation under greenhouse conditions.
IAEA-TECDOC-1266. Vienna. p. 99 - 111.

Hillel, D. 2000. Salinity management for sustainable irrigation: integrating science, environment,
and economics. Washington, DC: The World Bank. p. 92

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AEA Manual. 2001. Use of Isotope and Radiation Methods in Soil and Water Management
and Crop Nutrition. Training Course Series. 14. Vienna.

Ligetvari, F. 2003. Water Management Policy in Hungary. "Integrated Water Management,

Policy Aspects". Cyprus. Proc. p. 25-32.

Oncsik, M. B. & Korosi, F. 2000. Utilization of nitrogen by two rice varieties at various NPK
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Papadopulus, I. 1993. Fertigation of vegetables in plastic houses: present situation and future
prospects. Acta Horticulturae No.323. 151 – 174.

Schepers, J. S., Varvel, G. E., Watts, D. G. 1995. Nitrogen and water management strategies
to reduce nitrate leaching under irrigated maize. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology,
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Singandhupe, R. B., Rao, G. G. S. N., Patil, N. G., Brahmanand, P. S., 2003. Fertigation
studies and irrigation scheduling in drip irrigation system in tomato crop (Lycopersicon
esculentum L.). European Journal of Agronomy. 19. 327-340.

Tóth, A. 2000: Technology of irrigation and fertigation. (in Hungarian). Mezogazdasagi

Szaktudas Kiado. Budapest. 166.

Qadir, M. & Oster, J. D. 2003. Crop and irrigation management strategies for saline- sodic
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