Response of Bell Pepper to Irrigation, Nitrogen, and Plant Population1,2

Abstract

In field experiments, yields of pepper (Capsicum annum L.) were obtained by more frequent irrigation, nitrogen topdressings, and increased plant population. The highest marketable yield resulted when sufficient N was added to maintain soil NO₃–N levels between 20 (spring) and 30 (fall) ppm. In both seasons, the number of N topdressings was doubled in order to raise the soil NO₃–N maintenance levels from 10 to 20 ppm or from 15 to 30 ppm. Yield increases were influenced by frequent irrigation only when additional N was applied to maintain a higher soil NO₃–N. Populations greater than 27,000 plants/ha increased marketable yields in spring and fall by 2.8 and 7.1 MT/ha respectively.