GROWTH, YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY RESPONSES OF GREENHOUSE-GROWN BELL PEPPER {CAPSICUMANNUM L.) CULTIVARS TO DIFFERENT IRRIGATION AND NITROGEN APPLICATIONS.

Pepper is considered one of the vegetable crops most susceptible to water stress from insufficient irrigation. In this study, the effects of different irrigation and nitrogen levels on yield, morphological parameters, plant water consumption, water use efficiency, nitrogen contents and yield response factor of bell pepper were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Treatments were consisted of three irrigation water levels (I_1.oo: 100% control of field/pot capacity, I_0.80: 80% of field/pot capacity and I_0.60: 60% of field/pot capacity) and four fertilizer rates (Ni: 0 ppm; N₂: 100 ppm (1.515 g pot^-1); N₃: 200 ppm (3.030 g pot^-1); N₄: 300 ppm (4.545 g pot^-1) and two pepper cultivars ("Cemele" and "Kandil Dolma"). The study was conducted in splitsplit plots on randomized complete-block design with ten replications. As results, the I_1.00N₃C₂ treatments have given a high results in term of measured parameters. The findings suggested cv. "Kandil Dolma" come forward against to water deficit under greenhouses conditions. On the other hand, according to our results, we suggested levels of irrigation (I_0.80: 80% of field/pot capacity) and nitrogen (N₃: 200 ppm; 3.030 g pot^-1) for bell pepper under the green house condititons. The results of this study are important in terms of knowing plant water consumption, irrigation and fertilization programs for greenhouse pepper cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]