Effect of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Application on Growth and Yield of Bell Pepper (Capsicum annum) in Experimental Farm at Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Optimum plant population, natural resources, such as nutrients, sunlight, soil moisture and efficient fertilization are some of the primary factors that ensure satisfactory growth and yield. Hence, the objective of this paper was to investigate the effect of plant spacing and fertilizer application on growth and yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annum) in experimental farm at Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria using appropriate standard techniques. Three levels of spacing (S1=30cm x 50cm, S2=40cm x 50cm and S3 =50cm x 50cm) and four different levels of fertilizer application (F0 = control, F1 = 20 t ha^-1 poultry manure, F2 = 300 kg ha^-1 NPK 15:15:15 and F3 = 150 kg ha^-1 NPK 15:15:15 + 10 t ha^-1 were adopted. The parameters measured were plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, number of leaves, number of branches, fresh fruit weight per plant, fresh fruit weight per plot, fruit diameter, fruit length, and number of flowers per plant, number of fruits per plant and fruit yield. The results showed that S3F1, (50cm x 50cm spacing + 20 t ha^-1 poultry manure) had the highest plant height and stem diameter and S2F3, (40cm x 50cm spacing + 150 kg ha^-1 NPK 15:15:15 and 10 t ha^-1) had the highest fruit yield (1731.60 kg ha^-1). The lowest yield (994.49 kg ha^-1) was obtained at S1F0, (40cm x 50cm spacing + control). Therefore, farmers in this locality could grow bell pepper (Capsicum annum) at S2F3 for increased fruit yield.