Abstract:
Anoptimal use of irrigation water under conditions of water scarcity is a major concern in many arid and semi-arid areas. It is necessary to develop efficient, reliable and viable irrigation management strategies for effective use of the existing limited water resources in such areas. Among the different irrigation methods drip irrigation method is one means to improve the efficient use of water and yield of crops. Hence the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of black and white colour plastic mulch on drip irrigated pepper production in western wollega, EthiopiaThe effect of mulch and irrigation level was evaluated in terms of growth and yield parameters (plant height, leaf number, total, marketable and unmarketable yield) and water use efficiency. A field experiment was designed as a two factor factorial experiment in RCBD replicated three times. The two factors were three levels of water application (50, 75 and 100% of the ETc) and two types of mulches [white plastic (Mw), black plastic (Mb) and no mulch (C) as control].The variability among yield and WUE was significant (p < 0.05) for both mulch and irrigation levels.Interaction effects were also more or less statistically significant for all parameters. The maximum pepper yield (11379 kg/ha) was observed from full irrigation (100%ETc) with white mulch (Mw) whereas the minimum yield of (5141 kg/ha) was recorded from 0.5ETc with control treatment. On the other hand higher WUE was observed when three-quarter 0.75ETc was applied under white plastic mulches. From this point of view, when there is no shortage of water, it is best practice to apply 100ETc with white mulch that gave the highest marketable pepper yield (11379kg/ha), but when there is shortage of water, it is advisable to apply 0.75ETc with white mulch that improved the WUE without significant redaction of the yield.
