Impact of transplanting dates and irrigation on phenology and yield of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) under organic management system

Climate change-induced temperature rise and erratic rainfall have significantly affected vegetable production, particularly in water-sensitive crops like chilli. Optimizing transplanting time and irrigation scheduling is crucial for sustaining productivity under organic farming systems. The present investigation was conducted during Kharif 2021 at the organic experimental block of the Division of Vegetable Science, SKUAST-Kashmir, to evaluate the effect of different transplanting dates and irrigation schedules on phenology, growth, yield, quality, agrometeorological indices and economics of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with four irrigation schedules as main plot treatments and three transplanting dates as sub-plot treatments, replicated thrice. Irrigation schedules consisted of irrigation at vegetative+ 50% flowering+ 50% turning phase (I₁), irrigation at vegetative + 50% flowering phase (I₂), irrigation at 50% flowering phase (I₃) and rainfed condition (I₄). Transplanting dates include 14th, 18th and 22nd Standard Meteorological Weeks. Results revealed that irrigation at critical growth stages combined with early transplanting significantly improved plant growth, earliness, yield attributes, quality parameters and water use efficiency. The treatment combination I₁D₁ recorded maximum fruit yield (186.44 q/ha), higher water use efficiency, superior quality traits and the highest net returns (₹3,68,053/ha) with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.29. The study concludes that early transplanting coupled with irrigation at vegetative, flowering and turning stages is optimal for enhancing productivity and profitability of organic chilli under temperate conditions.