Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. var. Grossum)
Pramila Yadav
Department of Horticulture, Rama University, Mandhana, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India.
Jitendra Kumar *
Department of Horticulture, Rama University, Mandhana, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India.
Hari Shanker Singh
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Vinay Joseph Silas
Department of Horticulture, Rama University, Mandhana, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present investigation was conducted during the autumn-winter season of 2024–2025 to evaluate the effect of integrated use of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers, and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the growth, yield, and quality of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with nine treatments and three replications. The treatment combinations were as follows: T₁: Control, T₂: RDF + FYM @ 20 t/ha + PGPR, T₃: 75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha, T₄: 50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha, T₅: 75% RDF + PGPR, T₆: 50% RDF + PGPR, T₇: 75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha + PGPR, T₈: 50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha + PGPR. The results revealed that the treatment T₂ (RDF + FYM @ 20 t/ha + PGPR) recorded the best performance across various parameters, including: Plant height: 68.00 cm, Number of branches per plant: 4.56, Days to 50% flowering: 27.46, Days to first harvest: 58.10, Fruit length: 6.58 cm, Fruit breadth: 4.88 cm, Pericarp thickness: 5.24 mm, Number of fruits per plant: 22.56, Fruit weight: 52.64 g, Yield per plot: 22.14 kg, Maximum yield per hectare: 291.54 q/ha, Total Soluble Solids (TSS): 4.78 °Brix, Benefit-Cost Ratio (B:C): 1.90. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the integrated nutrient management (INM) approach involving RDF + FYM + PGPR significantly enhances the growth, yield, and quality of capsicum. Therefore, the use of INM practices is recommended for sustainable and profitable production of sweet pepper under similar agro-climatic conditions.
Keywords: Capsicum, nutrient management, growth and yield parameters