Effects of Plastic Mulch Types on Crop Performance of Drip Irrigated Winter and Summer Peppers

Abstract

Plant growth, yield, fruit quality and fruit performance characteristics were evaluated for transparent (T1)-, white (T2)-, black (T3)-, silver coated black plastic (T4) mulched, organic mulched, (T5) and non-mulched (T6) peppers (var. Cubanelle) under drip irrigation during winter and summer of 1981-82. Values of plant growth parameters, fruit weight, fruit width and length were significantly higher at 5% level during the winter than during the summer in each treatment thus resulting in increased winter pepper yield. T1 plots caused lowest pepper yield at 5% compared to yield of T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6. The percentage of defective peppers was highest at 5% level during the summer than during the winter. Second harvest had highest fruit weight at 5% level in comparison with third and fourth harvests during the winter and summer.