Effect of age of transplants, spacing, supplementary application Of Sulphate Of Ammonia and harvesting intervals On growth, yield and some postharvest qualities Of chilli peppper (C. Annuum) Var. Legon 18

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2013-04-21
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Two field experiments, one on the effect of age of transplants and spacing on the growth and yield and the second on application of inorganic fertilizers (NPK and sulphate of ammonia) and harvesting intervals on the yield and some postharvest qualities of chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum) var. Legon 18 were studied in a 3x3 factorial experiment on the experimental plots at the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, KNUST, Kumasi. In a Randomized Complete Block Design, age of transplants and spacing constituted the factors for the first experiment and fertilizer and harvesting intervals constituted the factors for the second experiment, with 3 levels for each of the factors. Data collected were plant height, number of leaves and branches, days to flowering and fruit set, number of fruits per plant and per hectare, fruit weight per plant and per hectare, number and weight of marketable fruits per hectare, weight loss, fruit firmness, fruit decay, shelflife of fruits and nutrient composition of fruits. Plant height was significantly affected by the age of transplanting and spacing. The 3 week-old transplants and the closest spacing produced taller plants whilst the four week-old transplants (A2) had more branches and leaves per plant than the other treatments. Spacing had a significant effect on the number of branches but did not affect the number of leaves. The widest spaced plants (S3) (75cmx75cm) produced more branches per plant. The interaction showed significant differences between some of them with the four week-old transplants and 75cmx75cm (A2S3), four week-old transplants and 75cmx75cm (A3S3) having more branches and leaves. On yield, the four week-old transplants (A2) produced more and heavier fruits per plant and per hectare. With spacing, the closest spacing (S1) (45cmx45cm) produced the highest number and weight of fruits per hectare but the least fruit yield per plant. Therefore, their interaction (A2S1) had more and heavier fruits per hectare which in turn reflected on the highest total number and weight of marketable fruits per hectare. Fertilization significantly influenced the number and weight of fruits. The F2 (9g NPK + 5g S/A) plants had more and heavier fruits per plant and per hectare. Harvesting at 3 days interval (H1) produced more fruits (number and weight) per plant and per hectare. Weight loss was not influenced by fertilizer but was significantly influenced by harvesting intervals with the fruits harvested at 7 days interval (H3) recording the lowest weight loss. Fruit firmness and decay were significantly affected by both fertilization and harvesting intervals. Treatments that received 9gNPK only (F1) produced fruits with higher firmness whilst plants that received 9gNPK+10gS/A produced the least firm fruits. Fruits harvested at 7 days interval recorded the best firmness whilst fruits harvested at 3 days interval were the least firm. The 9gNPK+10gS/A (F3) plants recorded the highest fruit decay, while the 9gNPK only (F1) plants had the lowest fruit decay. Fruits harvested at 7 days interval (H3) recorded the highest fruit decay, while fruits harvested at 5 days interval had the least. Nutrient composition of fruits was also affected by fertilization and harvesting intervals. Plants treated with 9gNPK+10gS/A and harvested at 5 days interval had the highest protein content but had the lowest ash content. Treatment with 9gNPK+5gS/A and harvested at 7 days interval recorded the highest crude fibre content. Plants applied with 9gNPK and harvested at 3 days interval had the highest crude protein and ash contents. The results showed that four week-old transplants spaced at 45cmx45cm produced the highest number and weight of fruit per hectare and marketable fruits per hectare and the application of fertilizer at the rate of 9gNPK+5gS/A/plant and harvesting at 5 days interval also produced more and heavier fruits per hectare.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the School Of Research and Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology, Kumasi, Ghana in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Science (Olericulture) Degree.
Keywords
Citation