I have a slightly different view, water uptake is part of the equation, but peppers, like people, depend on minerals to
maximize efficiency. The rainy wet areas will be more deficient in water soluble minerals thus limiting the amount the plants can absorb/retain
during its lifetime & will limit the maximum effective use of a continuous watering cycle. The mineral content of soils in Bolivia
differs from most other parts of the world also, so a study conducted strictly in Bolivia would have different results in other areas. Bottom
line is to not only make sure of your fertilizer, but make sure of your micro nutrients and ph of your soil to grow the hottest peppers in your area.(tempature is a big factor too, but wasn't part of the survey).