Effect of organic fertilizer rates on productivity of hot pepper [Capsicum chinense (Jacq.)] varieties in Minna, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic fertilizer rates on productivity of hot pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) varieties, under screen house at Federal University of Technology, Gidan Kwano Campus Minna, and in a farmers’ field in Minna, Nigeria, in the 2019/2020 dry season. A 3 x 3 factorial treatment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRD) in the screen house and Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) in the field, with four replications in the screen house and three replications in the field. The treatment consisted of three organic fertilizer rate (0, 1.5 and 3.0 t ha-1) and three hot pepper varieties (Mbgakpa, Dan-Sokoto and Dan-Zaria). Data were recorded on plant height, number of branches per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter and yield. Results showed that under screenhouse and field conditions the application of 1.5 and 3.0 t ha-1 of organic fertilizer recorded significantly similar taller plants, more branches, longer fruits than the application of organic fertilizer at 0 t ha-1. Bigger fruits were recorded with the application of organic fertilizer at the rate of 1.5 t ha-1 than the control and 3.0 t ha-1 organic fertilizer. The application of 3.0 t ha-1 of organic fertilizer recorded higher fruit yield in the screenhouse, but under field situation the application of 1.5 and 3.0 t ha-1 organic fertilizer recorded similar higher fruit yield than the control. The use of Mgbakpa variety recorded significantly taller plants and higher number of branches, similar with Dan-Sokoto under field condition. The use of DanSokoto produced longer fruits than the other varieties. Dan-Zaria and Dan-Sokoto produced significantly similar bigger fruits than Mgbakpa. Dan-Sokoto and Dan-Zaria recorded significantly similar higher fruits yield than Mbgakpa which recorded the lowest fruit yield. It can be concluded that sowing of Dan-Sokoto or Dan-Zaria with the application of 1.5 t ha-1 organic fertilizer can be used to obtain higher fruit yield of hot pepper in this Agro-ecological zone of Nigeria.