EFFECT OF MULCHING AND PLANTING DENSITY ON PRODUCTION OF SWEET BANANA PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.)
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Date
2020-08
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Effect of Mulching and Planting Density on Production of
Sweet Banana Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)’’ was carried out in the Research Farm of Department of
Vegetable Science,Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during Kharif
2020. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (Factorial) with three replications.
The twelve treatment combinations comprised of combination of four different mulches (M) viz., no mulch
(M0), pine needle mulch (M1) black-plastic mulch (M2), silver-black plastic mulch (M3) with three planting
densities (P) viz., 60×60 cm (P1) 60 cm×45 cm (P2) and 60 cm×30 cm (P3). The observations were recorded on
days to 50 per cent flowering, days to first picking plant height (cm), plant spread (cm), number of leaves per
plant, leaf size (cm2), fruit weight (g), fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (mm), number of fruits per plant, fruit
yield per plant (g), Fruit yield per plot (kg) and per ha (q), TSS (OBrix), ascorbic acid content (mg/100g), fruit
rot incidence (%), weed count, fresh and dry weight of weeds, soil moisture and temperature. The economics
of different treatment combinations were also worked out. Analysis of variance showed significant differences
for main effects and interaction effects of treatment combinations for most of the traits studied. The treatment
combination silver-black mulch with plant spacing of 60 cm×30 cm(M3P3) was found superior over all other
treatment combinations for most of the growth and yield parameters, quality traits, fruit rot incidence and weed
control as well as performed well in improving soil moisture and temperature.This treatment combination also
had maximum benefit: cost ratio of 4.21:1. Hence silver-black mulch in combination with 60 cm×30 cm
spacing can be recommended for commercial cultivation of Sweet Banana pepper in North Western Himalayan
regions after multi-locational testing.