Indian Journal of Agricultural Research

  • Chief EditorV. Geethalakshmi

  • Print ISSN 0367-8245

  • Online ISSN 0976-058X

  • NAAS Rating 5.60

  • SJR 0.293

Frequency :
Bi-monthly (February, April, June, August, October and December)
Indexing Services :
BIOSIS Preview, ISI Citation Index, Biological Abstracts, Elsevier (Scopus and Embase), AGRICOLA, Google Scholar, CrossRef, CAB Abstracting Journals, Chemical Abstracts, Indian Science Abstracts, EBSCO Indexing Services, Index Copernicus
Submit

Full Research Article

Impact of Agronomical Approaches on Growth, Yield and Economics of Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) var. Solan Bharpur under Mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh

Priyanka Bijalwan1,*, Shilpa1, Y.R. Shukla2, Manish Chauhan2
1Department of Vegetable Science, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur-176 062, Himachal Pradesh, India.
2Department of Vegetable Science, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan-173 230, Himachal Pradesh, India.

ABSTRACT

Background: Capsicum annuum L., popularly known as bell pepper, sweet pepper and shimla mirch, is a vegetable crop in the Solanaceae family. Because of its various nutritional benefits, capsicum is ranked one of the healthiest vegetables; therefore desire for this is expanding every day. Through its importance and market requirement in consideration, a study was conducted to assess the impact of planting methods, mulches and NAA treatment on bell pepper growth, yield and economics.

Methods: The study was performed at Experimental Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science, Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during Kharif seasons of year 2017-18 and 2018-19 (two years). The experiment was laid out in arandomized block design with three replications comprising twelve treatments. 

Result: Study revealed that T3 yielded maximum (384.69 q/ha) as well as recorded maximum values of gross return (Rs. 577,035.00/-), net return Rs. 3,52,416.93/- and comparatively less B:C ratio (1:57). Meanwhile, T1 recorded 77.80% control in weed population and have maximum (64.12%) efficiency to control emerging weeds as compared to T12.

INTRODUCTION

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) belongs to the family solanaceae, which is one of the important vegetable crops in India and throughout the world. It is not only used as vegetable but also it occupies a maximum place in kitchen. Its importance is increasing gradually in industries. It is a high value vegetable crop which was brought to India by the Britishers in 19th century in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh and Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu (Greenleaf, 1986). Bell pepper is looked upon as luxury vegetable as its consumption is greater in and around the cities. The high market price is attributed to the heavy demand from urban consumers (Akinfasoye et al., 2006). Himachal Pradesh is a leading supplier of bell pepper to the plains during summer and rainy season. The produce becomes off-season to the plains and fetches higher price to the vegetable growers (Joshi and Shukla, 1997). However, productivity and quality of produce is low because of fluctuating environment prevalent during its cultivation in open. Bell pepper, besides being a cash crop is also an important vegetarian food because of its high nutritional value particularly vitamin A (870 IU) and C (175 mg per 100 g of edible portion). It also contains appreciable quantity of protein, calcium, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin (Mac Gillivary, 1961). Growing capsicum in open field condition is very difficult because it is much sensitive to both biotic (disease, pest and weed) and abiotic stresses (drought, water logging, high temperature and low temperature) (Mennan et al., 2020). But good cultural practices like raised bed planting, mulching and improvement in plant physiology through application of growth regulators can mitigate the stresses. 
       
Raised bed technology is an adaptation of the traditional hill and furrow row cropping design. A raised bed gets warmed up more quickly in the spring, therefore, may enhance earlier growth and allowing for a longer growing season and better growing conditions (Mc Hugh et al., 2009). Since peppers perform poorly in excessively wet soils, a raised bed improves drainage and helps prevent water logging in low areas or poorly drained soils (Ahmad et al., 2009). Planting vegetables on raised beds can ameliorate the effects of flooding during the rainy season. Beds also create the opportunity for mechanical weed control and improves fertilizer placement (Singh et al., 2002). Yields of tomatoes increased with bed height, most likely due to improved drainage and reduction of anoxic stress (Pena and Hughes, 2007). Weed population decrease over time in a raised bed that is well cared for and mulched (Berle and Westerfield, 2013).
       
Mulching involves placing a layer of material on the soil around the crop of interest to modify the growing environment to improve crop productivity. Mulching increased soil porosity and reduced soil compaction. Mulching reduced leaching of nutrients, reduced weed problems, reduced evaporation of soil water and increased water use efficiency. It helps to maintain optimum soil moisture and promoted excellent crop growth throughout the growing season. Moreover, mulching increased growth and fruit yield through modification of the crop growing environment by reducing weed infestation, soil moisture depletion and ameliorating soil temperature (Awodoyin et al., 2007).
       
Among physiological factors, hormonal imbalance in the plant is very important which decides extent of flower and fruit drop under unfavorable conditions (Singh and Lal, 1995). The metabolism of auxins and growth promoters generate the energy-rich phosphate and precursors of metabolic processes, which may be the factors in the initiation of enhanced growth processes. The increased growth and delayed senescence in turn, favors increase in yield as most of the assimilates were translocated from the source to the sink under a stimulated environment (Basu chaudhari, 2016). Greater yield through improved cultural and physiological practices results in greater yield which provide greater returns to the farmers.
       
Therefore, the objective of this study was conducted to compare the effect of different planting techniques, mulching and NAA application on the growth, fruit yield, weed population and economics of bell pepper.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiment was performed at Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (Himachal Pradesh), Vegetable Experimental Farm [35°5¢N latitude and 77°11¢E longitude at an elevation of 1270 m (above MSL)] in the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 during Kharif season. Bell pepper cultivar “Solan Bharpur” was taken as experimental material. The experiment was laid out in Randomized block design with three replications. There were 12 treatments i.e., T1: Raised bed+Black polythene mulch +NAA application @ 15 ppm at 30 and 45 day after transplanting, T2: Raised bed+Black polythene mulch+No NAA application, T3: Raised bed+silver polythene mulch+NAA application @ 15 ppm at 30 and 45 day after transplanting, T4: Raised bed+silver polythene mulch + No NAA application, T5: Raised bed+No mulch+NAA application @ 15 ppm at 30 and 45 day after transplanting, T6: Raised bed+No mulch+No NAA application, T7: Flat bed+Black polythene  mulch+NAA application @ 15 ppm at 30 and 45 day after transplanting, T8: Flat bed+Black polythene mulch+No NAA application, T9: Flat bed+silver polythene mulch+NAA application @ 15 ppm at 30 and 45 day after transplanting, T10: Flat bed+silver polythene mulch+No NAA application, T11: Flat bed+No mulch+NAA application @ 15 ppm at 30 and 45 day after transplanting and T12: control. The height of raised beds were 15 cm and each bed was separated at a 45 cm distance. Mulches of 50 (200 gauge thickness) were used in plots based on the treatment combinations.
 
Weed count
 
WC data were collected from each plot with the help of a quadrate of 1×1 m (1 m2). For this, the quadrate was placed randomly in each plot and the total number of weeds growing within the quadrate was counted.
 
Weed control efficiency (%)
 
WCE was calculated at harvest as per the formula given below (Kondap and Upadhyay, 1985):
 
 
 
Where,
WCE= Weed control efficiency (per cent).
DMC= Dry matter production of weeds in control (weedy check) plots.
 
Economic analysis of treatments
 
After taking into consideration the fixed and variable inputs and their corresponding rates, the cost incurred on each treatment was worked out. Gross returns were computed for each treatment based on market prices of the produce and net returns were then computed by deducting the cost incurred from the gross returns of the particular treatment later on the benefit cost ratio (B:C) was calculated for each treatment as per formula given below:
 
  
 
Statistical analysis
 
ANOVA was used to determine the differences between the sixteen treatments. Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) was used to separate variances in treatment means, followed by (least significant difference) (LSD) as a post hoc test using SPSS software (11.5 version).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Growth and yield parameters
 
Results showed that the combination of raised bed + silver/black mulch+NAA application @ 15 ppm (T3) performed significantly best for all the yield and its attributing traits over control treatment (T12) (Table 1). 48.75% and 70.26% increment in plant height and number of branches per plant respectively was noted in P1M2N1 as compared to control (P2M3N2). Similarly, earliest flowering (26.89 days) was recorded by P1M2N1 and late (36.60 days) flowering by P2M3N2. Greater expand in fruit length (33.70%) and fruit width (35.12%) was recorded again in P1M2N1as in comparison with P2M3N2. Remarkable rise in fruit weight by 3.20%, 4.32%, 6.40%, 16.49%, 16.85%, 18.10%, 18.61%, 19.22%, 19.59%, 20.05% and 22.28% was estimated in T6, T11, T5, T8, T10, T2, T4, T1, T7, T9 and T3, respectively as compared to T12. Likewise, in case of number of fruits per plant was increased by 4.06%, 7.12%, 9.88%, 11.94%, 14.04%, 17.30%, 18.15%, 22.92%, 25.48%, 27.48% and 30.29% in T6, T11, T5, T8, T10, T2, T4, T1, T7, T9 and T3,  respectively as in comparison of T12. Greater increase in yield per plant by 7.32%, 10.98%, 17.07%, 30.49%, 32.93%, 37.80%, 39.02%, 46.34, 50.00%, 51.22% and 58.54% was recorded in T6, T11, T5, T8, T10, T2, T4, T1, T7, T9 and T3, respectively.

Table 1: Effect of different agro-techniques on growth, yield, weeds and economics of bell pepper.


       
Yield per hectare was rise by 7.36%, 11.66%, 17.18%, 30.47%, 33.13%, 38.24%, 40.08%, 47.24%, 50.92% and 59.30% in T6, T11, T5, T8, T10, T2, T4, T1, T7, T9 and T3, respectively (Table 1). Better plant growth and development in raised beds may be because of assimilation of macro and micro nutrients as well as more developed root system caused by tillage and greater nutrient availability (Arvidson, 1999). The raised beds do not allow the soil to get compact and the plants are less damaged due to restricted cultural operations. This result in improved soil structure and control trafficking (Berle and Westerfield, 2013). Mulching enhance greater plant morphology and yield due to no weed population, better soil moisture retention, optimum root zone temperature and better nutrient availability to the plants (Verma et al., 2016, Edgar et al., 2016, Helaly et al., 2017). There was a linear increase in total yield with the application of NAA. The results obtained in the present findings may by explained on the basis that NAA treated plants remained physiologically more active to build up sufficient food material for developing more number of flowers and fruits, ultimately leading to more fruit setting and consequently more yield of better quality fruits (Fatima and Denesh, 2014; Vandana and Varma, 2014; Kumari et al., 2017; Mohammad et al., 2017).
 
Weed count and weed control efficiency
 
As depicted in Table 1, P1M1N1 (raised bed+ black polythene mulching+NAA application @ 15 ppm at 30 and 45 days after transplanting)proved to be more efficient for controlling weed population than P2M3N2 (flat bed+no mulch+no NAA application)/control. Weed population was reduced by 77.80%, 76.58%, 72.72%, 72.55%, 68.66%, 68.22%, 67.15%, 66.37%, 12.69%, 5.23% and 2.31% in T1, T2, T7, T8, T9, T3, T4, T10, T5, T6 and T11, respectively.
       
Similarly, the control treatment (T12) has no efficiency to control weeds. Maximum (64.12%) efficiency to control weeds was recorded in T1 (raised bed+black polythene mulching+NAA application @ 15 ppm), while minimum (8.62%) was observed in T11 (flat bed+no mulch+no NAA application) (Table 1). Number of weeds emerging out in one square meter area is an important factor which is directly related to plant vigor and yield of the plant. In the present study, mulching with black polythene and raised bed planting recorded minimum number of weeds and had greater intensity to control weeds which could be due to the fact that the mulch prevented the weed seeds to germinate. It might also be due to the preventive effect of mulch on light penetration that acted as physical barrier affecting the growth of most of the annual and perennial weeds (Ram et al., 2005; Mukharjee et al., 2010; Asrafuzzaman et al., 2011). Another reason is mulch could be that it might create partially anaerobic conditions for the survival of weed species and thus finally resulting in a very low weed population, although moisture and nutrients were available (Schonbeck and Tillage, 2011).
 
Economics of bell pepper production
 
The data pertaining to economics of different treatments have been depicted in Table 2. An examination of the data revealed that highest gross income per hectare amounting to Rs. 5,77,035.00/- was obtained in T3 followed by Rs. 5,51,115.00/- in T1 and Rs. 5,46,660.00/- in T9), whereas, lowest i.e. Rs. 3,62,220.00/- in T12. On the other hand highest cost of cultivation per hectare i.e. Rs. 2,24,618.07/- was obtained in T3 followed by Rs. 2,22,928.07/- in T4, whereas, lowest cost of cultivation (Rs. 1,47,874.66/-) was incurred in T12.

Table 2: Effect of different treatments on economics of bell pepper production.


       
Interestingly the treatment combination T3 which yielded maximum (384.69 q/ha) also recorded maximum values of gross return (Rs. 5,77,035.00/-), net return Rs. 3,52,416.93/-but not B:C ratio (1:57) which was highest (1:74) in T5. The reason for increased net profit in treatment T3 may be due to maximum marketable yield, healthy and better fruit size and higher net returns as compared to other treatments which however, recorded more B:C ratio like T5 (1:74) and T11 (1:70) (Table 2). These results are in line with those of Dadeech et al., (2018) who also recorded maximum net returns of Rs. 139,220.00/- with highest cost benefit ratio of 1:68:1 while using silver mulch in watermelon. The present results also showed that capsicum production in general is highly dependent on labour and can be described as labour intensive business venture.
       
Highest net returns of Rs. 3,52,416.93/- in T3 in the present studies may be attributed to less expenditure on labour involved on weeding, hoeing and other cultural operations as mulch controlled maximum weeds. Similar results on the effect of mulching on seed production of bell pepper have also been shown by Verma et al., (2014). Increased yield, net return and B:C ratio by using raised bed technology have also been shown by Kumar et al., (2015) in garlic crop under irrigated condition of Uttar Pradesh.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of two year studies, it can be concluded that the T3 (raised bed, silver mulch with NAA application @ 15 ppm at 30 and 45 days after transplanting) which yielded maximum along with maximum gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio and T1 (raised beds+black polythene mulch+NAA application @ 15 ppm at 30 and 45 days after transplanting) which had higher efficiency to control weeds may be recommended to the farmers for higher yield and greater income.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

REFERENCES


  1. Ahmad, N., Arshad, M., Shahid, M.A. (2009). Bed-furrow System to Replace Conventional Flood Irrigation in Pakistan, 60th International Executive Council Meeting and 5th Asian Regional Conference, New Delhi, India. 

  2. Akinfasoye, I.A., Nmyan, D.J., Tairu, R.M. (2006). Effect of harvesting frequency on the duration, yield and quality of pepper. In: Proceeding of 24th Conference of Horticulture Society of Nigeria. 17-22 September, Gombe, Nigeria. 

  3. Arvidson, J. (1999). Nutrient uptake and growth of barley as affected by soil compaction. Plant Soil. 208:9-19.

  4. Ashrafuzzaman, M., Halim, M.A., Ismail, M.Z., Shahidullah, S.M., Hossain, A. (2011). Effect of plastic mulch on growth and yield of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L). Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology. 54: 321-30.

  5. Awodoyin, R.O., Ogbeide, F.I., Oluwole, O. (2007). Effects of three mulch types on the growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) and weed suppression in Ibadan, Rainforest-savanna transition zone of Nigeria. Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension. 10: 53.60.

  6. Basuchaudhuri, P. (2016). 1-Napthaleneacetic acid in rice cultivation. Current Science. 110: 52-56.

  7. Berle, D. and Westerfield, R. (2013). Raised Beds vs. In-ground Gardens. The University of Georgia. Cooperative Extension. Dadheech, S., Ramawtar, Yadav, C.M. (2018). Impact of mulching material on growth, yield and quality of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.). International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences. 7: 2774-82.

  8. Edgar, O.N., Gweyi-Onyango, J.P., Korir, N.K. (2016). Influence of mulching materials on the growth and yield components of green pepper at Busia County in Kenya. Asian Research Journal of Agriculture. 2: 1-10.

  9. Fathima, P.S. and Denesh, G.R. (2014). Influence of humic acid spray on growth and yield of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). International Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 9: 542- 46.

  10. Greenleaf, W.H. (1986). Pepper Breeding. In: Breeding Vegetable Crops. M J Bassett ed., AVI, West port. pp. 67-134.

  11. Helaly, A.A., Goda, Y., Abd El-Rehim, A.S., Mohamed, A.A., El- Zeiny, O.A.H. (2017). Effect of polythene mulching type on the growth, yield and fruits quality of Physali spubescens. Advances in Plants and Agriculture Research. 6: 00229. DOI: 10.15406/apar.

  12. Joshi, A. and Shukla, Y.R. (1997). Diversification of vegetable crop in the temperate region of India. A Model Punjab Vegetable Grower. 32: 24-27.

  13. Kondap, S.M. and Upadhyay, U.C. (1985). A Practical Manual of Weed Control. Oxford and IBH Publ. Co., New Delhi. pp. 55.

  14. Kumar, A., Singh, B., Kumar, S., Kumar, P. (2015). Furrow irrigated raised bed (FIRB) plant technique for improving yield and profitability of garlic crop. Annals of Horticulture. 8: 61-64.

  15. Kumari, A., Singh, V.K., Shree, S., Kumar, V., Nirgude, V. (2017). Influence of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and integrated nutrient management (INM) on yield and economics attributes of chiili (Capsicum annuum L.). Journal of Applied and Natural Science. 9: 311-15.

  16. Mac Gillivary, J.H. (1961). Vegetable Production. New York Mac Graw Hill Book Co. Inc., 33 p. 

  17. Mc Hugh, A., Tullberg, J., Freebairn, D. (2009). Controlled traffic farming restores soil structure. Soil and Tillage Res. 104: 164-172. 

  18. Mennan, H., Jabran, K., Zandstra, B.H., Pala, F. (2020). Non- chemical weed management in vegetables by using cover crops: A review. Agronomy. 10: 257; https://doi.org/ 10.3390/agronomy10020257.

  19. Mohammad, M.K., Rasdi, M.Z.M.D., Naeimah, N.N., Nashriyah, M.A.T. (2017). Effects of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on the plant growth and sugars effects on the cut flowers Mokara Chark Kuan orchid. Bioscience Journal. 33: 19-30.

  20. Mukherjee, M.A., Kundu, M., Sarkar, S. (2010). Role of irrigation and mulch on yield, evapotranspiration rate and water use pattern of tomato (Solanum lycopersicm L.). Agriculture Water Management. 98: 182-89.

  21. Pena, R. de, la. and Hughes, J. (2007). Improving vegetable productivity in a variable and changing climate. ejournal.icrisat.org. An Open Access Journal Published by ICRISAT. 4: 1-22.

  22. Ram, H., Singh, Y., Timsina, J., Humphreys, E., Dhillon, S.S., Kumar, K., Kler, D.S. (2005). Performance of upland crops on raised beds in northwestern India. Evaluation and performance of permanent raised bed cropping systems in Asia, Australia and Mexico. ACIAR Proceedings. 121. pp. 41-58. 

  23. Schonbeck, M. and Tillage, B. (2011). Principles of Sustainable Weed Management in Organic Cropping Systems. In Workshop for Farmers and Agricultural Professionals on Sustainable Weed Management, 3rd ed.; Clemson University: Clemson, SC, USA. Available online: https:// www.clemson.edu/public/sustainableag/ pdfs/ weedmanagement.pdf (accessed on 10 February 2017). 

  24. Singh, D.K. and Lal, G. (1995). Effect of growth regulators on the fruit set, yield and quality of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars. Advances in Horticulture and Forestry. 4: 133- 41.

  25. Singh, S.A., Yadav, R.K., Malik, Singh, H. (2002). Furrow irrigated raised bed planting system: A resource conservation technology for increasing wheat productivity in rice-wheat sequence, in Malik et al. (Ed.), Herbicide Resistance Management and Zero Tillage in Rice-wheat Cropping System, Proceeding International Workshop, Hisar, India, 4-6 March 2002, CCS HAU Hisar, India. pp. 198-200.

  26. Vandana, P.P. and Varma, L.R. (2014). Effect of spray treatment of plant growth substances at different stages on growth and yield of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cv. Indra under green house. International Journal of Life Science Research. 2: 235-40.

  27. Verma, R. (2014). Effect of mulching and planting geometry on seed production in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). MSc. Thesis. Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh.

  28. Verma, R., Mehta, D.K., Thakur, K.S., Prasad, H., Lal, M. (2016). Effect of mulching geometry on seed production of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh. International Journal of Bio-resources and Stress Management. 7: 1146-51.
Reviewed By

Download Article
In this Article
    Contact us
    Follow us

    Editorial Board

    View all (0)