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The aim of this study was to estimate the growth of red pepper and soil moisture changes according to the irrigation and different covering methods in open field. The growth of pepper such as plant height, leaf area, and leaf and stem dry weight was high in order of the PE tunnel, PE mulch, and non-mulch treatment. And the growth of pepper was also much increased in the irrigated field than non-irrigated, even though this experiment year had rained frequently. Total number of fruit set was higher in the tunnel than the mulch and non-mulch, and in the irrigated than the non-irrigated treatments, respectively. Total red fruit yield was highest at the PE mulch in the non-irrigated, but in the irrigated field, total yield was highest at the tunnel. Dry weight percent of the top part of pepper was partitioned relatively higher in the leaf on early stage (July 30), in the fruit on middle stage (July 29 and August 29), and in the stem on late stage (September 30), respectively. During the growing period in 1997, the precipitation amount was about 597 ㎜ and irrigating water was supplied to 190 ㎜. The soil moisture potential (SMP) was maintained below -50 ㎪ in the tunnel with irrigation, and it was markedly higher than the other treatments. But there was not much different in the SMP between the PE mulch and tunnel with non-irrigated treatment. The SMP was higher at the tunnel with irrigated treatment, and difference of SMP by soil depths (10, 20, and 30 ㎝) was more clearly in the irrigated field. In the condition of this year´s precipitation, growth and yield of red pepper could increase by the tunnel with irrigation.
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