Evaluation of optimum dose of fertilizer and plant spacing for sweet peppers cultivation in Northern Areas of Pakistan.

摘要

A field experiment to determine the optimum level of fertilizer and plant spacing for sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) cultivation was carried out during summer 2004, on KARINA Farm at Juglote, northern areas of Pakistan. Three plant spacings (45x30, 60x45 and 75x60 cm) were randomly assigned to main plots and five fertilizer levels (0:0:0, 75:50:30, 100:70:50, 125:90:70 and 150:110:90 kg N:P:K/ha) to subplots. Most of the parameters, except for number of branches and fruit weight, were significantly affected by the different levels of fertilizer. The greatest plant height (29.13 cm), number of fruits per plant (15.36), fruit weight (67.05 g), yield per plant (1040 g) and yield ha-1 (43.19 t) were recorded with the application of 125:90:70 kg N:P2O5:K2O/ha, whereas the lowest values of these parameters were found in plots where no fertilizer was added. Plant spacing significantly affected all the parameters with the exception of number of branches per plant. The highest number of leaves (106.6), number of fruits (17.91), fruit weight (66.93 g) and yield per plant (1161.89 g) were observed at 75x60 cm plant spacing. The greatest plant height (28.86 cm) and yield ha-1 (45.39 t) were recorded at 60x45 cm spacing. The interaction of different levels of fertilizer and spacing showed significant effect on most of the parameters. Better performance regarding growth and yield were observed when plants were supplied with 125:90:70 kg N:P:K/ha and spaced at 60x45 cm apart under the agroclimatic conditions of Juglote..