Effect Of Smart Agriculture Practices On Yield And Crop Water Productivity Of Sweet Pepper

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under different irrigation levels and systems, with the aim of optimizing water use efficiency and improving crop productivity under field conditions in central Iraq. The field experiment was carried out in Al-Yusufiyah, Baghdad Governorate, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a factorial arrangement of three irrigation levels (I1: 100%, I2: 75%, and I3: 50% of crop water requirement) and two irrigation systems (furrow and surface drip irrigation). The experimental plot covered an area of approximately 2000 m², and Modesto sweet pepper seedlings were transplanted and monitored over a 173-day growing season. Results showed that surface drip irrigation significantly reduced seasonal water consumption compared to furrow irrigation, with a 21% decrease at the same irrigation level. The highest water consumption was recorded under furrow irrigation (622 mm at I2), whereas the lowest was under drip irrigation (350 mm at I3). Surface drip irrigation improved plant height, stem thickness, and total yield, particularly under moderate water stress (I2). Plant height reached 110 cm under I1 and 103 cm under I2 in the drip system, with no significant differences between the two. Total yield peaked at 80 t·ha⁻¹ under I1 in the drip system, which was not statistically different from I2 (76 t·ha⁻¹), despite a substantial reduction in water input. Water use efficiency (WUE) was also significantly higher under drip irrigation, with values of 12.6, 15.4, and 13.7 kg·m⁻³ for I1, I2, and I3, respectively, compared to 9.4, 10.6, and 8.9 kg·m⁻³ under furrow irrigation. These improvements were attributed to better root zone moisture retention, enhanced nutrient availability, and reduced water losses through evaporation and deep percolation. The findings highlight the potential of surface drip irrigation, particularly at 75% irrigation level (I2), as a sustainable strategy for improving water productivity and maintaining high yields of sweet pepper under water-limited conditions. This is the first documented estimation of the seasonal water requirement of sweet pepper in central Iraq under open-field conditions.