Impact of Climate Change in Capsicum Production: A Review

Vegetable crops are sensitive to temperature, most of them require specific temperatures for optimum yield and quality. Climate change will effect capsicum production through increase in pollination failures, floral abortion, reduced fruit size and quality under higher temperature, increased incidence of physiological disorders (sun scald and blossom end rot), increased risk of soil borne diseases (leaf blight and fruit rot). Increasing temperatures will also influence greenhouse crop production, particularly in sub-tropical regions. In temperate areas there will be less effect and sowing time can be adjusted accordingly. Irrigation requirement will be high because of higher evaporative demand. So there is a need to adjust the sowing time according to changing temperatures. Selecting cultivars which are more tolerant are adaptable to changing environmental conditions. So polyhouses are best solution to avoid losses due to unfavourable climatic conditions like high temperature, heavy rains, strong winds and hailstones etc. Integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) will be an important tool to adapt to changing climate. Mulching with different mulching materials will help in reducing the incidence of soil born diseases like fruit rot and leaf blight. Scientists have to breed the cultivars, suitable to grow under changing temperature, resistant to insect, pest and diseases. To cope up with the effects of climate change we have to follow good production technology in capsicum and also to increase the yield and for good quality of the produce.