YIELD, FRUIT QUALITY AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF CHILI 'MIRASOL' UNDER IRRIGATION DEFICIT

Water availability is the main environmental limitation for dry chili (Capsicum an annuum L.) production in the North Central Area of Mexico. The aim of this study was to compare four intensities of irrigation deficit (DI) against full irrigation (FI), in terms of fruit yield, dry chili quality, and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) in 'Mirasol' chili grown in a semiarid zone. The DI treatments were: 85 % (DI 85), 70 % (DI 70), 55 % (DI 55), and 40 % of FI (DI 40). Average water savings in DI 85, DI 70, DI 55 and DI 40 were 8, 16, 23 and 30%, respectively. The DI 40 treatment produced the highest percentage of marketable fruit, with similar yields to FI in two out of three years that the treatments were evaluated. The DI 40 showed increased IWUE, and reduced irrigation water volume by 1520 m(3) ha compared to FI. Therefore, this treatment might be a water-saving alternative for this semiarid region and for other ones facing groundwater over-exploitation, without compromising dry chili quality. However, further studies regarding DI for this crop are needed in areas with low or no rainfall.