Prediction of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate for Red Bird Eyed Chili (Capsicum frutescens L.) Production using DSSAT

Abstract

Prediction of nitrogen fertilizer rate for red bird eyed chili (Capsicum frutescens L.), Huaruea–So–Ko–13 cultivar was carried out by establishing plot for collecting plant genetic coefficient (GC plot) for input in the DSSAT program. This GC plot was carried out in Sikhiu soil series with five rates of N fertilizer i.e. 0, 8, 16, 24 and 32 kg/rai. Also, effect of six N–fertilizer rates i.e. 0, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 36 kg/rai was carried out in six soil series, namely, Chatturat, Takhli, Teparak, Nonthai, Lop Buri and Sikhiu soil series. Growth and pod yield data were collected to be used in DSSAT program in order to predict growth and yield of chilli, and to validate the precision of DSSAT. Results showed that application of 24 kg N/rai gave the highest yield of red bird eyed chili in the GC plot. Whereas, the recommended N fertilizer rates for studied soils were 16 kg N/rai for Teparuk soil series, 24 kg N/rai for Lop Buri, Takhli, and Chatturat soil series, and 32 kg N/rai for Nonthai and Sikhiu soil series. The results from DSSAT simulation found that DSSAT program could precisely predict pod weight and leaf number of chili with d–stat of 0.944 and 0.844, respectively.