Effects of Soil Amendments on Growth and Yield of Pepper (Capsicum Frutescens L.)
Adewoyin O.B1., Fagbayide S.D2 And Oluwafemi M.O3
*1 &3Department of Horticulture, *2 Agricultural Engineering
Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State Nigeria
Accepted on July 26, 2013
Abstract
Research was conducted at the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure between March and August 2010 and 2011 to evaluate the effects of organic and mineral fertilizers on growth and yield of pepper. Pepper seeds were obtained from department of Agronomy University of Ibadan and raised for six weeks in the green house before transplanting to the field at a spacing of 70 cm x 50 cm inter and intra row spacing respectively. The treatments were poultry manure at 5 ton/ha, organomineral fertilizers at 3.0 tons/ha, liquid fertilizer at 1,400 litres/ha and control (no fertilizer application). The treatments were laid out in a randomised complete block design replicated four times. Growth and yield parameters such as plant height stem girth, fruit yield, number of fruits, number of leaves and number of branches was investigated. Results showed that there were significant increase (P<0.05) in the growth and yield parameters. Organomineral fertilizer gave the highest response, followed by Boost extra, poultry manure and control (no fertillizer) had the least in terms of improved growth and fruit yield of Capsicum frutescens. For the organomineral the number of leaves, plant height, stem girth and fruit yield ranged from 139 – 313, 22.3 – 56.7cm, 2.3 – 4.5cm2, 6.0 – 1.8, and 3.1 t/ha respectively while for the control 87 – 192, 20.4 – 49.8cm, 1.6 – 4.3cm2 , 3.0 – 14.0 and 1.0 t/ha. The percentage increased in yield and growth parameters of organomineral fertilizer compared to control treatment are as follows: 38.7%, 12.2%, 14.0%, 22.2% and 16.9% respectively.