Research Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Management. Vol. 3(9), pp.

427-433, September, 2014

Available online at http://www.apexjournal.org
ISSN 2315 - 8719© 2014 Apex Journal International

Full Length Research

Growth and productivity of hot pepper (Capsicum

annuum l.) as affected by variety, nitrogen and
phosphorous at Jinka, Southern Ethiopia
Tibebu Simon1* and Bizuayehu Tesfaye2
1
Wolaita Sodo University, College of Agriculture, Wolaita Sodo, . P.O. Box 138 Ethiopia
2
Hawassa Universities, Hawassa, College of Agriculture, Hawassa, Ethiopia. P.O. Box 05
Accepted 17 July, 2014

A field experiment was conducted to assess the growth and productivity of hot pepper (Capsicum
annuum L.) at Jinka, southern Ethiopia during the 2009 cropping season under rain fed condition using
supplementary irrigation. The study consisted of 3 released hot pepper varieties (Mareko Fana, Melka
Shote and Melka Zala), 4 levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha-1) and 4 levels of phosphorous (0,
-1
46, 92 and 138 kg P2O5 ha ) in Split- Split plot design with three replications where, variety was
assigned as main plot factor nitrogen and phosphorous were arranged as sub and sub-sub plot factors,
respectively. Melka zala variety failed to grow after transplanting due to bad season. Data were
collected for phenology, growth, fruit yield and yield components. Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
revealed that varieties differed significantly (P≤0.05) in number of leaves, stem diameter, fruit length,
fruit number per plant, fruit diameter, fruit dry weight, seed number per fruit, total biomass and harvest
index. Nitrogen affected positively and significantly (P ≤ 0.05) days to flowering, days to fruiting, days to
maturity, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area index, branch number, fruit yield, fruit length, fruit
number per plant, fruit diameter, fruit dry weight, seed number per fruit and total biomass but had no
significant effect on thousand seed weight and harvest index. Days to flowering, days to fruiting, days
to maturity, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area index, stem diameter, fruit yield, fruit length, fruit
number per plant, fruit diameter, thousand seed weight, total biomass and harvest index of hot pepper
responded positively and significantly (P ≤ 0.05) to increasing phosphorous level; but phosphorous had
no significant effect on branch number, fruit dry weight, seed number per fruit. There was no significant
interaction between variety, nitrogen and phosphorous levels for all observed parameters except for
fruit dry weight and harvest index. In this study, the highest dry fruit yield was achieved using Mareko
Fana variety at 150 kg N/ha and phosphorus at 138 kg P2O5/ha which was by 91% higher than the
control. However, according to the partial budget analysis, the highest economic benefits of 74,096
birr/ha was obtained at 50 kg N/ha and 92 kg P2O5/ha. Therefore, Mareko Fana with application of 50 kg
N ha-1 and 92 kg P2O5 ha-1 could be appropriate for hot pepper production in the test area. However,
further testing is required in different locations and on different soils.

Key words: Hot pepper, Variety, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Growth, Yield.

INTRODUCTION

Pepper (Capsicum annuum) is the world’s most important condiments (Acquaah, 2004). The total area devoted to
vegetable after tomato and used as fresh, dried or pepper world wide is estimated at 4 million hectare with
processed products, as vegetables and as spices or an average annual increase of 5% (Weiss, 2002). In
Ethiopia, the total area under hot pepper for dry pod
(Berbere) and for green pepper (Karia) in 2008 was
estimated to be 8580.69 ha, and 110405.89 ha respec-
*Corresponding author. E-mail: tibebusimon@yahoo.com tively (CSA, 2009). In southern region of Ethiopia the
 428 Res. J. Agric. Environ. Manage

total area covered with pepper and total production in sandy loam, a pH value of 6.42, the soil organic matter
-1
years 2005-2008 were 37562 ha and 27352 tons, content was 4.83%, available P was 3.54 mg kg ,total N
respectively and the productivity of pepper in SNNPR was 0.18% and the CEC value was 33.13 cmol kg 1on the
was 0.73 t/ha, where as the average dried yield obtained basis of soil analysis taken before planting. The
in research condition 1.8-2.5 t/ha (OoARD, 2007). experiment was conducted during May to November,
The world average yield of pepper is 3.75 t/ha (CSA, 2008 under rain fed condition by using supplementary
2005). Average yield of pepper in the country was about irrigation.
0.6 t/ha but the yield estimate in small farmer was about The experiment consisted of three varieties of hot
0.4 t/ha, while the average marketable yield in state pepper (Mareko Fana, Melka Shote and Melka zala), four
farms was 0.3 - 0.9 t/ha where as in research condition levels of Phosphorous fertilizers (0, 46, 92 and 138 kg
1.8-2.5 t dried pepper /ha and 15 - 20 t/ha green pepper P2O5 ha-1) and four levels of Nitrogen (0, 50, 100 and 150
(lema et al., 2008). To narrow the yield gap a number of kg N ha-1). The treatments were combined factorially
options can be taken including evaluating different hot resulting in a total of 48 treatment combinations. The
pepper varieties for adaptation, and determining the experiment was laid out in a split-split-plot design with
optimum fertilizer rate. Pepper require adequate amount three replications. Varieties, Nitrogen levels and
of most major and minor nutrient but the nutrient mostly Phosphorous levels were assigned to main plot, sub-plot
used on pepper are nitrogen and phosphorous (Bosland and sub-sub plot, respectively. Each replication consisted
and Votava, 2000). of 48 plots corresponding to the 48 treatment
Girma et al. (2001) reported that application of 200 combinations. Plot size was 19.2 m2 (4.0 m x 4.8 m). The
kg/ha of DAP and 100 kg/ha of urea was found optimum spacing between rows and plants were 60 and 40 cm,
for better yield at Abobo. However, Jackson et al. (1985) respectively. There were 8 rows per plot and 10 plants
recommended that application of 140 kg/ha of P2O5 per row with a total of 80 plants per plot. Seeds of the
before sowing or transplanting, and split application of three varieties were sown on nursery beds at the rate of
130 kg/ha of N. Application of 207 kg of DAP and 137 kg 600 gm/ha on rows separated by 15 cm and at the depth
of urea per hectare gave optimum yield of pods in hot of 1.5 cm, keeping 4 cm distance between seeds then
pepper variety Odaharo at Bako (MoARD, 2005). seedlings with 10-12 cm height, 4-5 true leaves and with
However, the actual amount of fertilizer to apply depends no disease and pest sign were transplanted one
on soil fertility, fertilizer recovery rate and soil organic seedling/hill for all varieties.
matter content. Application of 100 kg DAP before planting Nitrogen fertilizer was applied by split application
and split application of 100 kg urea, 50 kg at 20 days method in the form of urea the first three weeks after
after transplanting and the other 50-kg at the time of transplanting and the second at first fruiting. Phosphorus
flowering is, generally recommended for Ethiopian soil was applied in the form of TSP at the time of trans-
(IAR, 1996). planting. Standard cultural practices such as weeding,
Although imported and local pepper varieties are pest and disease control were carried out uniformly in all
available in Ethiopia, their adaptation and suitability for plots. Data were collected on phonology, growth, yield
different agro-ecologies of the country has not been and yield related traits of pepper. Pre-sowing soil, soil
determined fully; data on appropriate N and P levels that samples after harvest and the plant tissue samples for N
is required to achieve at each locality is not available. and P concentration were analyzed following standard
This is particularly true to Jinka area where there had laboratory procedures as outlined by Sahlemedhin and
been no research effort to evaluate varieties and to Taye (2000).
determine optimum rate and combination of NP fertilizer
for profitable hot pepper production, Thus the main
objective of the current study was to assess the growth RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
and yield response of three different hot pepper varieties
to different levels of NP fertilizers with a view to The experiment was started with three commercial
determine the optimum NP levels most appropriate hot varieties of hot pepper (Mareko Fana, Melka Shote and
pepper cultivar suitable for Jinka area, Southern Ethiopia. Melka zala) but variety Malka zala failed to grow after
transplanting due to bad cropping season of the area.
The variety was then excluded from the analysis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS

A field experiment was conducted at Jinka agricultural Phenology and Growth Parameters
research center, which is located at 5°52' latitude N,
36°38' longitude E, and 1450 m above sea level. The Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that differences
total precipitation and monthly average temperature of in days to 50 % flowering, fruiting and maturity among
the area during the crop growth period was 99.5 mm and varieties were not significant but the application of N and
22.3°C, respectively. The soil of the experimental site is P fertilization had significant effect (Table 1). Increasing
 Simon and Tesfaye 429

Table 1. Days to 50% flowering, days to 50% fruiting, days to 50% maturity of
pepper as affected by varieties, nitrogen, and phosphorous at Jinka, in 2009.

Treatments DTFL DTFR DTMT

Variety
Marako Fana 44.66a 93.6a 121.6a
Melka Shote 46.29a 95.29a 124.44a
LSD 0.05 NS NS NS
CV% 9.5 7.23 6.5

Nitrogen (kg ha-1)

0 44.04b 93.04b 121.54b
50 44.92b 93.92ab 122.42ab
100 45.58b 94.46ab 123.46ab
150 47.38a 96.38a 124.67a
LSD 0.05 2.25 2.91 2.5
CV% 7.9 4.9 3.2

Phosphorous(kg ha-1)
0 49a 98a 126.17a
46 46.92a 96.33ab 124.83a
92 44.67b 93.11bc 122.04ab
138 41.33c 90.33c 119.04b
LSD 0.05 2.17 3.71 5.13
CV% 8.22 6.78 7.18
DTFL=Days to 50% flowering, DTFR= Days to 50% fruiting, DTMT= Days to 50% maturity
Means with the same letters within the columns are not significantly differ at P < 0.05

N application increased number of days taken to 50% MAT reaching a maximum at 3 MAT (Tables 2 and 3). N
flowering, fruiting and maturity whereas Days to 50 % affected positively and significantly (P ≤0.05) plant height,
flowering, fruiting and maturity decreased with increasing number of leaves, leaf area index, branch number
level of P fertilization (Table 1). This showed that nitrogen (Tables 2, 3 and 4).
had delayed flowering, fruiting and maturity while The reason might be due to the increased vegetative
Phosphorus enhances flowering, fruiting and maturity. growth with increasing N and this could be due to
This result is in agreement with Brady and Weil (2002) increase in N supply leads utilization of carbohydrate to
who stated that phosphorous is helpful in flowering and form protoplasm and more cells to enhance growth.
hastens maturity of crops. Similarly, Michael (2003) Plants deprived of N show decreased cell division and
indicated that application of N fertilizer is beneficial to expansion (Hewitt and Smith, 1974). N is known to
vegetative growth and prolongs flowering, fruiting and promote both cell division and elongation which may
maturity period. Similarly, Bosland and Votava (2000) explain way treatments with high N had high mean plant
stated that excess application of nitrogen stimulate height number of leaves, branch number. Similarly, AL-
secondary growth and delays maturity. No significant Shooke (1985) reported that the vegetative growth
differences were found for the variety, N and P interaction significantly improved through N fertilization. Mean LAI
effect on days to 50 % flowering, flowering and maturity. increased with increasing age of plants and reached a
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that varieties maximum of 2.94 at 3 MAT then it was declined at 4 MAT
differed significantly (P≤0.05) in number of leaves, while (Table 4). This showed that the effect of N was more
no significant difference on mean plant height, branch pronounced at early growth stage (1 to 2 MAT) than late
number and stem diameter of pepper at all growth stages growth stage prior to senescence (3 to 4 MAT). Plant
(except 1MAT). At 3 MAT, both Mareko Fana and Melka height, number of leaves, leaf area index, stem diameter
Shote recorded the highest mean number of leaves per of hot pepper responded positively and significantly (P ≤
plant. The variety Mareko Fana had lower number of 0.05) to increasing phosphorous level; but phosphorous
leaves per plant than Melka Shote throughout its growth had no significant effect on branch number. The
stage and at harvesting times. Mean number of leaves differences in plant height, number of leaves, leaf area
per plant of the two varieties increased with increasing index, stem diameter between all phosphorous levels
 430 Res. J. Agric. Environ. Manage

Table 2. Mean Branch number plant-1 and stem diameter (cm) of pepper as affected by varieties, nitrogen, and phosphorous at Jinka, 2009.

LN PH
1MAT 2MAT 3MAT 4MAT 1MAT 2MAT 3MAT 4MAT
Variety
Marako Fana 150.2b 218.03b 239.95b 239.7b 25.88a 37.98a 45.09a 50.09a
Melka Shote 174.44a 232.97a 262.48a 261.1a 25.24a 35.41a 42.65a 47.75a
LSD 0.05 10.34 14.92 16.75 20.96 NS NS NS NS
CV% 7.25 7.53 7.59 9.53 10.06 8.33 9.77 8.8
-1
N (kg ha )
0 142.83b 201.17b 232.33b 232.58b 23.52a 34.02b 40.88c 45.88c
50 164.27a 227.98a 256.65a 254.73a 24.19a 34.03b 41.25bc 46.25bc
100 164.15a 233.08a 255.94a 251.77a 26.23a 37.94a 45.06ab 50.06ab
150 178.02a 239.77a 259.94a 258.44a 28.29a 40.79a 48.29a 53.29a
LSD 0.05 16.38 17.63 15.75 15.62 NS 3.7 4.15 4.15
CV% 16.04 12.43 9.97 9.92 15.52 16.02 15.05 13.51

P (kgha-1)
0 124.13c 192.73c 215.7c 214.96c 23.33a 31.72b 38.29b 43.29b
46 154.08b 221.5b 246.1b 247.08b 25.6a 37.77a 41.19b 50.19a
92 175.48a 237.15a 263.3ab 264.31ab 25.73a 37.73a 45a 50a
138 195.58a 250.63a 279.8a 275.17a 27.56a 39.56a 47a 52a
LSD 0.05 20.16 14.55 20.01 17.94 NS 2.86 3.12 3.12
CV% 11.11 11.39 13.72 12.34 17.60 13.41 12.24 11
PH=Plant height, LN=Leaf number, MAT= Months after transplanting
Means with the same letters within the columns are not significantly differ at P < 0.05

Table 3. Mean Branch number plant-1 and stem diameter (cm) of pepper as affected by varieties, nitrogen, and phosphorous at Jinka, 2009.

BN SD
1MAT 2MAT 3MAT 4MAT 1MAT 2MAT 3MAT 4MAT
Variety
Marako Fana 6.07a 11.07a 13.07a 15.57a 0.677a 1.0a 1.13a 1.32a
Melka Shote 5.25a 10.25a 12.25a 14.75a 0.61b 0.97a 1.11a 1.34a
LSD 0.05 NS NS NS NS 0.05 NS NS NS
CV% 24.8 13.22 11.14 9.3 8.29 14.04 23.45 19.77
N (kg ha-1)
0 5.35b 10.35b 12.35b 14.85b 0.611a 0.95a 1.07a 1.28a
50 5.40b 10.4b 12.4b 14.9b 0.636a 1.02a 1.11a 1.32a
100 5.67ab 10.67ab 12.67a 15.17ab 0.646a 0.99a 1.12a 1.33a
150 6.23a 11.23a 13.25a 15.73a 0.678a 1.01a 1.17a 1.38a
LSD 0.05 0.61 0.61 0.61 0.61 NS NS NS NS
CV% 17.21 9.14 7.7 6.5 14.44 12.15 15.66 13.32
P (kg ha-1)
0 5.38a 10.38a 12.38a 14.88a 0.568b 0.92b 1.05b 1.26b
46 5.63a 10.63a 12.63a 15.13a 0.663a 1.02a 1.15a 1.36a
92 5.79a 10.79a 12.79a 15.29a 0.646a 1.0a 1.13a 1.34a
138 5.85a 10.85a 12.85a 15.35a 0.696a 1.04a 1.16a 1.37a
LSD 0.05 NS NS NS NS 0.07 0.05 0.08 0.08
CV% 19.54 0.38 8.74 7.3 17.48 8.11 11.67 9.83
BN=Branch number, SD=Stem diameter, MAT= Months after transplanting;
Means with the same letters within the columns are not significantly differ at P < 0.05
4
 Simon and Tesfaye 431

Table 4. Mean leaf area index of pepper as affected by varieties, nitrogen, and
phosphorous at Jinka, in 2009.

LAI
1MAT 2MAT 3MAT 4MAT
Variety
Marako Fana 1.83a 2.7a 2.97a 2.82a
Melka Shote 1.63a 2.34a 2.56a 2.44a
LSD 0.05 NS NS NS NS
CV% 14.99 19.19 19.8 19.59

N (kg ha-1)
0 1.63b 2.44b 2.69b 2.55b
50 1.71b 2.48ab 2.73ab 2.59ab
100 1.70b 2.47b 2.71ab 2.58ab
150 1.89a 2.69a 2.94a 2.8a
LSD 0.05 0.122 0.21 0.23 0.222
CV% 11.25 8.8 8.88 8.81

-1
P (kgha )
0 1.40a 2.21b 2.47b 2.33b
46 1.62a 2.39b 2.63b 2.49b
92 1.88a 2.7a 2.96a 2.83a
138 2.02a 2.78a 3.08a 2.89a
LSD 0.05 NS 0.21 0.24 0.22
CV% 12.27 14.54 14.61 14.55
LAI= Leaf area index, MAT= Months after transplanting
Means with the same letters within the columns are not significantly differ at P < 0.05

were not significant but all P levels were significantly decreasing rate of growth. Mean LAI value increased
different from the control (Tables 2, 3, and 4). Mean plant linearly from 1 MAT to 3 MAT and then declined at 4 MAT
height of hot pepper is increased due to P nutrition and (Table 4). This showed the fact that during juvenile phase
as P level increases the height increases till 4MAT. vegetative parts such as plant height, branches, stem
Mehrotra (1986) reported that P ranging from 20 kg ha-1 and leaf production increased to the maximum, and then
to 140 kg Pha-1 influence pepper height. Mean leaf remain constant at reproductive phase; which reduced at
number per plant increased with increasing P level and maturity due to leaf abscission senescence, bending
age of plants up to 3 MAT and then after no more marked downward and contraction. This contributed to the
change at 4MAT while the minimum values were reduction in LAI at 4 MAT (maturity). All interaction
recorded from the control at 1MAT (Table 2). That is due effects of variety, N and P on plant height, branch
to the increase in leaf number with phosphorous may be number, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area index
phosphorous increased the growth parameters since it were non-significant (P ≤ 0.05) at all growth stages.
promotes plant growth (Mengel and Kirkby, 1987).
Similarly, Stroeheline et al. (1979) reported that plants
suffering from P deficiency produced low lateral shoots Fruit Yield and Yield Components
which result in to developed low number of leaves.
Mean plant stem diameter of hot pepper is increased Analysis of variances (ANOVA) revealed that varieties
due to P nutrition as P application increased stem differed significantly (P≤0.05) in fruit length, fruit number
diameter increases. Similarly, Sundstom et al. (1984) in per plant, fruit diameter, seed number per fruit, and total
their study of N and P and plant spacing on mechanically biomass. Mareko Fana variety had significantly higher
harvested tobasco pepper found that stem diameter fruit length, fruit diameter, seed number per fruit and also
increased rapidly with the application of P at early growth Higher total biomass per plant than Melka Shote but
stage and reached a point where it increased at Melka Shote variety had significantly higher fruit number

5
 432 Res. J. Agric. Environ. Manage

Table 5. Yield and yield components of pepper as affected by varieties, nitrogen, and phosphorous at Jinka, in 2009.

Treatments FRY FNPP FL FD TSW SNPF HI FDW TBM

Variety
Marako Fana 2.49a 31.45b 11.43a 1.98a 7.09a 128.5a 0.5b 2.47a 4.98a
Melka Shote 2.29a 55.24a 9.9b 1.21b 7.01a 69.79b 0.52a 1.52b 4.41b
LSD 0.05 NS 7.83 0.55 0.14 NS 2.62 0.016 0.16 0.37
CV% 12.15 20.57 5.85 9.97 8.44 3.0 3.6 20.38 8.89

-1
N (kg ha )
0 2.15b 34.48c 9.78b 1.38c 7.02a 94.67c 0.52a 1.81b 4.15c
50 2.31a 39.98b 10.20b 1.52b 6.9a 95.88bc 0.5ab 1.97b 4.59b
100 2.54a 47.77a 11.17a 1.77a 7.06a 102.13ab 0.51ab 2.08a 4.93a
150 2.55a 51.17a 11.5a 1.72a 7.14a 103.92a 0.49b 2.12a 5.11a
LSD 0.05 0.2 4.82 0.57 0.07 NS 6.61 NS 0.16 0.24
CV% 10.97 17.66 8.49 6.54 8.14 10.6 6.33 12.63 8.26

-1
P (kg ha )
0 2.27b 34.75c 9.22b 1.41b 6.76b 97.04a 0.5a 1.88a 4.46b
46 2.18b 43.75b 10.93a 1.61a 7.26a 97.63a 0.48b 1.96a 4.48b
92 2.53a 45.73ab 11.28a 1.66a 6.79a 102.54a 0.52a 2.03a 4.89a
138 2.58a 49.15a 11.23a 1.70a 7.38a 99.38a 0.52a 2.12a 4.95a
LSD 0.05 0.17 4.89 0,56 0.1 0.34 NS 0.02 NS 0.2
CV% 11.99 19.43 9.13 10.52 8.2 11.15 6.12 15.44 7.26
FRY= Fruit yield (t/ha), FNPP=Fruit number per plant, FL= Fruit length (cm), FD= Fruit diameter (cm), TSW= 1000 seeds weight (g), SNPF= Seed
number per fruit, HI=Harvest index, FDW=Fruit dry weight (g) TBM=Total Biomass (t/ha)
Means with the same letters within the columns are not significantly differ at P < 0.05

per plant Melka Shote (Table 5). diameter, thousand seed weight, and total biomass of hot
Nitrogen affected positively and significantly (P ≤ 0.05) pepper responded positively and significantly (P ≤ 0.05)
fruit yield, fruit length, fruit number per plant, fruit to increasing phosphorous level; but phosphorous had no
diameter, seed number per fruit and total biomass but significant effect on branch number, and seed number
had no significant effect on thousand seed weight. In this per fruit. The lowest fruit yield, fruit number per plant, fruit
study generally he highest dried fruit yield, fruit number diameter, and total biomass were obtained from 0 kg P
per plant, fruit number per plant, seeds per fruit and total ha-1 whereas the highest was obtained from 138 kg P ha-1
-1
biomass were recorded from 150 kg N ha while the (Table 5). Generally in this study increasing P level
-1 .
lowest was from 0 kg N ha This result suggests that N increased fruit yield, and yield components except some
application to the soil is important to improve fruit yield in consistency in fruit length and thousand seed weight.
and yield components of pepper significantly. This might In this study it was also observed that the yield
be due to nitrogen is an integral component of many improvement due to P application was mainly attributed
essential plant compounds like chlorophyll, proteins and it to the accompanying improvement in yield component as
is a major part of all amino acids (Brady and Weil, 2002). fruit number per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter, number
It increases the vegetative growth and produces good of seeds per fruit and also leaf area index. This result is
quality foliage and promotes carbohydrate synthesis in agreement with observation of Baghour et al. (2001)
through photosynthesis and ultimately increased yield of who reported that vegetative growth yield and quality of
plants (Mengel and Kirkby, 1987). This result also agree pepper significantly improved through nitrogen and
with Baghour et al. (2001) who reported that fruit setting phosphorous fertilization. This could be attributed to the
in pepper was related to phytohormone activity and N important role of each nutrient affecting growth and yield.
nutrition. Similarly, Luia and John (1995) reported that Nitrogen is an essential constitute of protein and
nitrogen fertilization at the higher rate increased number enzyme which directly affects several biochemical
of fruits, yield and total biomass. process mainly the photosynthetic activity (Marschner,
Fruit yield, fruit length, fruit number per plant, fruit 1993). Phosphorous is required for producing well
6
 Simon and Tesfaye 433

developed and highly efficient rooting system (Havlin et CSA (Central Statistical Agency). 2009/10. Report on
al., 1999). There was no significant interaction between land utilization. Volume IV. Ethiopian Agricultural
variety, nitrogen and phosphorous levels for all observed sample survey, 2001/2002 (1994 E.C). Addis Ababa,
parameters except for fruit dry weight and harvest index. Ethiopia.
Girma, T., Lidet, S., Damtrew, M., Daniel, B. (2001).
Berber production in Ethiopia.
Conclusion Havlin, J.L., Benton, D., Tisdale, S.L., Nelson, W.L.
(1999). Soil fertility and Fertilizers: An introduction to
th
Results of the present experiment indicated that the nutrient management. 6 (ed.), Hall, Prentice Inc. USA.
highest dry fruit yield was achieved using Mareko Fana Pp.499.
variety at 150 kg N/ha and phosphorus at 138 kg P2O5/ha Hewitt, E.J., Smith, J.A. (1974). Plant mineral nutrition.
which was by 91% higher than the control. However, The English Universities Press, London. Pp. 298.
according to the partial budget analysis, the highest IAR (Institute of Agricultural Research). 1996. Department
economic benefits of 74,096 birr/ha was obtained by of horticulture. Vegetable research
using Mareko Fana variety and application of 50 kg N/ha Jackson, H.T., Agegnehu, S., Bruncko, W., Haussier, P.,
and 92 kg P2O5/ha. Therefore, Mareko Fana variety with Proctor, F., Samu-Negus, H., Schall, R., Zimmermann,
application of 50 kg N ha-1 and 92 kg P2O5 ha-1 could be A. (1985). A practical guide to horticulture in Ethiopia:
appropriate for hot pepper production in the test area. Horticultural Development; Ministry of State Farm
However, further testing is required in different locations Development. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Pp. 51-64.
and on different soils. Lemma, D., Shimeli, A. (2008). Achievement and
research experience on capsicum crop Melkasa
Agricultural Research center. EIAR. Un published
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS report.
Luia A.F., John, H.E. (1995). Economic analysis of
The authors wish to acknowledge RCBP, SARI for soybean-wheat cropping systems. Department of Plant
sponsoring the project also EHSS for their kind and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University,
cooperation. The authors would also like to thank Eden Stillwater
Markos for her encouragement. Marschener, H.1993. Mineral nutrition of higher plants,
2nd ed. Academic press London.
Mehrotra 1968 Fertilizer news, 13: 158 – 62.
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