Econimics of growing sweet pepper under low tunnels

To study the economics of growing sweet pepper under low tunnels an experiment was laid out in split plot design keeping four irrigation treatments (drip irrigation with IW/CPE ratio of 0.60 (II), (12), 0.90 (13) and furrow irrigation with paired row planting (14)), in main plots and three different low tunnel heights (45cm (HI) and 75cm (H3)) in sub plot and replicated three times. Total yield was observed highest in H2 and I2 treatments. There was significant effect of irrigation, tunnel height on sweet pepper yield and their interaction was also significant. Among the tunnel height treatments H2 gave an increase of 11.08% yield over lowest HI treatments. Best drip irrigated (12) gave and increase of 30.67% over the furrow irrigated paired row planting (14). For treatment combination, in the I2H2 treatment mean sweet pepper yield was maximum (298.86 q/ha) and minimum in I4HI treatment (209.39 q/ha). The early yield varying from 16–20% was obtained under low tunnels. The treatment combination of I2H2 treatment gave highest benefit-cost ratio (2.93 without subsidy) and (3.05 with maximum subsidy) in drip irrigation.