Impact of Irrigation Methods and Mulches on Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Leaf Curl Complex and Yield in Jaffna District of Sri Lanka

Abstract

A field study was conducted to evaluate the varietal performance of green Chilli (Capsicum annum) for Chilli leaf curl complex with different mulches and irrigation system from May to October 2016. Chilli is one of the most important cash crop grown in Sri Lanka. Generally Jaffna farmers get low yield (8- 10 ton / ha) from Chilli cultivation, mainly due to pest and diseases incidence. This research was carried out to study the effect of irrigation with different mulch material on leaf curl complex and the yield of green Chilli. The factors consisted of irrigation systems (sprinkler, drip and basin), varieties (Galkiriyagama, Super Hybrid and Vijaya hybrid) and mulch (No mulch, Neem leaves, Giliridicia leaves) in split plot design with three replicates. Results were analyzed by SAS package and the mean separation was done by Duncan method.(Probability 5 %).Plant height and canopy width were statistically not significant among irrigation, varieties and mulches. The difference in yield of chilli was statistically significant among varieties, mulches and irrigation systems. Higher yield was recorded in neem mulch under sprinkler irrigation system due to the low incidence of pest attack at 2nd harvesting (12 ton / ha). Therefore, sprinkler irrigation system with neem is more suitable for Super Hybrid chilli cultivation to reduce leaf curl complex and to obtain optimum yield.