Productivity of hot pepper (Capsicum frutescensL.) landraces as affected by organic fertilizer in the Southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria.

Abstract

Pot and field experiments were designed to study the effect of organic fertilizer on the growth and yield of hot pepper landraces. The treatment consisted of factorial combination of organic fertilizer levels (0, 1.5 and 3.0 t ha-1) and hot pepper landraces (Dan Zaria, Dan Sokoto and Mgbakpa) arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) in four replications in the screen house, and randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated three times in the field. Application of organic fertilizer significantly (P<0.05) affected plant height, number of leaves, fruit length and diameter, number of fruits per plant and fruit yield. The application of organic fertilizer at 1.5 t ha-1 to hot pepper significantly (P<0.05) increased the plant height and number of leaves, fruits per plant, longer and bigger fruits, and higher fruit yield in the screen house and field conditions. The landrace Mgbakpa produced significantly (P<0.05) taller plants, more leaves and fruits compared to the other landraces, in both conditions, except for plant height and number of leaves at 6 weeks after transplanting (WAT) in the screen house and plant height at 12 WAT in the field. Planting of Dan Sokoto and Dan Zaria landraces produced significantly (P<0.05) longer and bigger fruits and maximum fruit yields. Based on the result of this study, farmers can obtain a better fruit yield of hot pepper by using Dan Sokoto and Dan Zaria with the application of 1.5 t ha-1 organic fertilizer.