Growth and fruit yield of Pepper (Capsicum annum) as influenced by varying degree of pruning of Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) in a Pepper/Pigeon intercrop

Abstract

study was conducted at the teaching and research farm of the University of Agriculture Abeokuta (7o15'N, 3o25'E) between May 2007 and January 2009. Five treatments arranged in Randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times comprised of pepper planted between rows of pigeon pea spaced at 25 x 150 cm and pruned to 25 cm, 50 cm, 75 cm and 100 cm above the soil surface and a sole pepper control. The intra and inter row spacing of pepper in sole and mixtures was 50 cm by 50 cm. Varying pruning regime of pigeon pea had no significant effect on growth, total fruit yield and number of fruits, monthly fruit yield and number of fruits and monthly fresh fruit weight of pepper. Number of fruits of pepper increased across all treatment and peaked in November, the same goes for pepper fruit yield. Pepper monthly fruit weight however declined continuously from point of first harvest. Fruit yield of pepper is influenced more by the number of fruits than the fruit weight. It was concluded that Mixture of pepper with pigeon pea pruned to 50 cm above the soil was the best treatment in this study. This treatment combines better (p>0.05) fruit yield of pepper with relatively longer (p>0.05) period of harvest with appreciably high biomass of pigeon pea for soil organic matter improvement .In pepper/pigeon pea intercrop pruning pigeon pea to about the average height of the pepper will be adequate for proper growth and fruit yield.