Production and efficiency of water usage in capsicum crops under no-tillage and conventional planting systems

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of no-tillage and conventional planting systems, and of weed-management strategies on water-usage efficiency in capsicum crops. The experiment was carried out at the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, using a split-plot l...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maria Eliani Holanda Coelho, Francisco Cláudio Lopes de Freitas, Jorge Luiz Xavier Lins Cunha, José Francismar de Medeiros, Márcio Gledson Oliveira da Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal do Ceará
Series:Revista Ciência Agronômica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1806-66902013000400010&lng=en&tlng=en
Description
Summary:This study aimed to evaluate the effect of no-tillage and conventional planting systems, and of weed-management strategies on water-usage efficiency in capsicum crops. The experiment was carried out at the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, using a split-plot layout in a randomized block design with four replications. The tillage systems were evaluated in the plots, and three weed-management strategies evaluated in the subplots (soil cover with polyethylene film, and with and without weeds). The density and dry mass of the weeds, the commercial and total productivity, and the daily water consumption were all evaluated. It was found that the no-tillage system reduced the density and dry mass of the weeds in comparison to conventional systems, and the interference of these plants reduced commercial productivity under both planting systems. The strategy of weeds under a no-tillage system, despite a higher water consumption, showed a productivity and efficiency of water usage superior to those of the strategies of polyethylene film both under no-tillage and conventional systems, and of weeds under a conventional tillage system.
ISSN:1806-6690