3.5 Summary and conclusion
The results of this experiment showed that the water requirement of mareko fana pepper was low at initial stage, and it gradually increased in crop development stages, attaining a peak in the fruit establishing stage of pepper. Almost all parameters except flower and pod number per plant were recorded maximum under drip irrigation with full level compared to other treatments throughout the growing period. But the maximum number of flowers and pod numbers were recorded from 80% ETc levels.Full Irrigation applications throughout the growing season was got minimum CWUE and IWUE but, 60% DI was got maximum compared with other irrigation levels (P<0.05). However, applying 60% DI throughout the growing season resulted maximum yield reduction but the relative water saved, CWUE and IWUE was maximum compared with other irrigation levels. The highest pepper Ky was obtained via 50% deficit throughout the growing season where the minimum yield reduction factor was observed at full irrigation level. Based on the yield response factor analysis 10, 20 and 30% deficit had minimum value whereas 40, 50 and 60% deficit levels have gotten greater than one (Ky>1) which achieved the maximum yield reduction (P<0.01).Marketable yield showed a significant difference (P<0.01) in all deficit levels due to this; it was not possible to locate the water stress threshold value of pepper but, at 30% deficit level yield reduction was 26.52% nearly one-quarter of 0% deficit level by withholding 33.4% of water. Therefore, it concluded that when water is not a limiting factor for the crop under study, 0% deficit level enables to produce maximum yield but as indicated above 26.52% yield reduction is only obtained by withholding 33.4% of the water applied for water stress condition.