Abstract:
The excessive utilization of inorganic fertilizers can result in severe human and environmental
risk. The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of an organic fertilizer derived from Azolla in
its dry form blended with Rice husk ash (RHA) and Eppawala rock phosphate (ERP) on the growth
and yield performance of Green Chilli variety MICH HY 01. This study was conducted as a pot
experiment at the Faculty of Technology, University of Ruhuna. The basal growing media was
prepared by using compost, sand, and coir dust at 2:1:1 ratio. The experiment followed a complete
randomized design with four treatments and four replicates. The treatments comprised of Azolla:
ERP: RHA ratio as follows, T1 (control - 0g: 3g: 3g), T2 (3g: 3g: 3g), T3 (6g: 3g: 3g), and T4 (9g: 3g:
3g). Growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, leaf length, leaf
width, stem diameter) and yield parameters (number of days to first flowering, number of flowers,
number of pods, pod length, pod girth, fresh weight of pods) were recorded. Results revealed that
the application of the fertilizer at a ratio of 9g: 3g: 3g of Azolla: ERP: RHA (T4) per plant
significantly enhanced both growth and yield of Chilli. Applying Azolla as a fine powder with ERP
and RHA resulted in significant difference (P<0.05) in plant height (88.25±1.65 cm), number of
leaves (196±4.35), number of branches (82±4), leaf length (15.075±0.189) cm, leaf width (6.00
cm), stem diameter (7.535±0.149 mm) in T4. The minimum number of days to first flowering
were recorded in T4 as 60.00±0.00 days, and highest number of flowers per plant (84.25±6.30),
number of pods per plant (45.75±3.52), greatest pod length (12.375±0.11 cm), pod girth
(10.360±0.15 mm) the highest total yield per plant were recorded (108.69±5.19 g) in T4.
Comparatively, the control treatment (T1) with 0g: 3g: 3g of Azolla: ERP: RHA exhibited
significantly lower yields. Therefore, the application of Azolla, Eppawala rock phosphate, and Rice
husk ash at a rate of 9g: 3g: 3g per plant proved to be most suitable for achieving high yield in
Chilli cultivation.
