CLIMATE AND SOIL CHARACTERIZATION IN IRRIGATION PLANNING FOR BELL PEPPER IN THE HUMID CLIMATE OF OMU-ARAN, NIGERIA

This study shows the relationship between soil physicochemical properties and water use of Capsicum annuum L. (Bell pepper) grown in a hydraulic weighing lysimeter. A hydraulic weighing lysimeter made from PVC drum was designed, constructed and installed to study the crop water use of Bell pepper. Analyses were carried out to determine the physico-chemical properties of soil and crop water use of Bell pepper in humid savanna zone of Omu-Aran, Nigeria. The soil in the study area is a slightly alkaline and the soil micro and macro porosity at depth 0-15cm to be 0.194, 0.536, and 0.73 respectively with that of depth 15-30 cm to be 0.115, 0.425, and 0.54 respectively. Also, bulk density for the 0-15 cm depth was 0.714 g/cm3 while that of 15- 30cm was 1.261g/cm3 indicating that sample for 15-30cm is more compacted. The results also revealed that the ETc of the bell pepper crop increases during the development and mid stages hence the crop water use is highest during the crop growth mid stage.