Predicting biomass and yield of sweet pepper grown with and without plastic film mulching under different water supply and weather conditions

The applicability of the FAO AquaCrop model to simulate sweet pepper growth with and without plastic film mulching under different water supply and weather conditions is assessed. Pepper yield and biomass are simulated using the results of a two-year (2012 and 2013) field experiment conducted in Stara Pazova and a three-year (2011, 2012 and 2013) field experiment in Sombor, both in Serbia. The year 2012 was much warmer and drier than the two other years. At the Stara Pazova site, black plastic mulch was used and three different irrigation treatments applied: 1) full irrigation (F), at 100% of ETc (crop evapotranspiration); 2) deficit irrigation (R), at 80% of ETc; and 3) deficit irrigation (S), at 70% of ETc. In Sombor, only full irrigation (F*) was applied and there was no mulching. Two different cultivars (cv. Elephant Ear and Misina) were grown in Stara Pazova and Sombor, respectively.