Effect of Superabsorbent, Nitrogen Fertilizer and Drought Stress on Yield and Water Productivity of Bell Pepper

In this pot experiment, the effects of three levels of zero (A0), three (A1) and five gram (A2) aquasorb superabsorbent per kg of soil, three levels of 70 (W1), 85 (W2) and 100 (W3) percent of irrigation requirements and two levels of 75 (F1) and 100 (F2) percent of nitrogen fertilizer requirements were studied on some traits of bell pepper plant. The experiment was factorial based on randomized complete block design with 18 treatments and three replications. The results showed significant effect of superabsorbent and irrigation treatments on all components except stem diameter. Among the superabsorbent treatments, the highest fruit yields (666.2 gr) and water productivity (12.36 kg/m3) were obtained in A2 treatment. Among the irrigation treatments, the highest values of the mentioned functions were obtained in the W3 and W1 treatments with 621.81 g and 10.57 Kg/m3 respectively. The effect of fertilizer treatments on shoot weight, root and fruit yield was significant. The highest fruit yield was 638.70 g in F2 treatment. The interaction of two variables of water with superabsorbent with effect on fresh and dry weight of shoot and root and on yield and water productivity yielded the highest fruit yield (916.65g) and productivity (14.55kg/m3) in A2W3 treatment. The interaction effects of superabsorbent and fertilizer showed that the highest yield and water productivity were equal to 670.51 grams and 12.44 kg / m3 in A2F2 treatment. The interactions of water and fertilizer showed that the highest yield and water productivity were 625.59 g in W3F2 and 12.32 kg/m3 in W1F2 treatment. The interaction of three superabsorbent, water and fertilizer variables on all studied traits was not significant