SharanappaMADHUKUMAR, V2017-08-082017-08-082015-08-05TH-11170http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810027870A field experiment entitled “Effect of organic nutrient source on growth, productivity and quality of chilli hybrids in dry zone of Karnataka” conducted in farmers field at Talaku Village, Challakere Taluk, Chitradurga District (Karnataka) during kharif season of 2013-14 & 2014-15 and pot experiment on evaluation of locally available plants biomass as an organic micronutrient source on growth and productivity of chilli during Summer 2014. There were 12 treatment combinations comprising three chilli hybrids viz., KBCH-1, Arka Meghana and Devanur Deluxe and four organic nutrient sources laidout in randomized complete block design under factorial concept. Among the organic nutrient sources, application of vermicompost, silkworm waste and goat manure (75 kg N equivalent ha-1 at 1:1:1 as basal) + EBDLM (75 kg N equivalent ha-1 as top dressing) + 3 sprays of panchagavya (3 %) at 25, 50 and 75 days after transplanting (DAT) recorded significantly higher dry chilli yield (2940 kg ha-1) which may be attributed to significantly more number of fruits (plant-1), 100-fruit weight (g), fruit length (cm), total dry matter production (g plant-1), leaf area (cm2 plant-1), number of branches (plant-1) and plant height (cm) which was on par with recommended chilli cultivation (150, 75 and 75 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1) practices (2935 kg ha-1). The quality parameters viz., ascorbic acid (mg 100 g-1), capsaicin content (%), per cent oleoresin, were superior with lower per cent of discoloured fruit and discoloured fruit yield (kg ha-1) with the application of vermicompost, silkworm waste and goat manure (75 kg N equivalent ha-1 as basal dose at 1:1:1) + EBDLM (75 kg N equivalent ha-1 as top dressing) + panchagavya (3 %) at 25, 50 and 75 DAT as compared to recommended chilli cultivation practices (150, 75 and 75 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1). Among chilli hybrids significantly higher dry chilli yield was obtained with KBCH-1 (3020 kg ha-1) followed by Arka Meghana (2845 kg ha-1) and Devanur Deluxe (2551 kg ha-1). The higher dry fruit yield is attributed to more number of fruits per plant. Significantly higher ascorbic acid (mg 100 g-1), capsaicin content (%), per cent oleoresin, lower per cent of discoloured fruit and discoloured fruit yield (kg ha-1) were observed in KBCH-1 as compared to Arka Meghana and Devanur Deluxe. Higher gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio were registered (` 2,99,338 ha-1, ` 2,15,994 ha-1 and 3.59, respectively) in chilli hybrid KBCH-1 raised on vermicompost, silkworm waste and goat manure (75 kg N equivalent ha-1 as basal at 1:1:1) + EBDLM (75 kg N equivalent ha-1 as top dressing) + 3 sprays of panchagavya (3 %) at 25, 50 and 75 DAT. The pot experiment results indicated that application of Hyptis suaveolens biodigested liquid manure at 150 kg N equivalent ha-1 recorded higher dry fruit yield (kg ha-1), superior quality of fruits and higher concentration and uptake of micronutrients as compared to the rest of the treatments including application of recommended dose of fertilizer (150, 75 and 75 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1).ennullThesis