Effect of Different Fertilizer Schedules on Growth and Yield of Green Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) under Controlled Environmental Conditions.

Abstract

One innovative approach to agricultural practices is controlled environmental agriculture (CEA). To maximize crop growth and yield, farmers turn to liquid nutrient formulas such as Albert’s solution in CEA. There is a growing interest in investigating other fertilizer substitutes for growing crops in CEA. The present experiment was carried out to compare the effects of six different fertilizer schedules containing Mugasol, Densol, Medotec and Complesal fertilizer ranges (T1 to T5) with the control being the commonly used Albert solution (T6) for growth and yield of green chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) var. MICH-HY1. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with five replications. As growth parameters, plant height and number of leaves per plant were taken at one month after planting and both fresh weight and dry weight of the plant structural biomass were measured at the end of the trial. Yield parameters such as total number of fruits, total fruit weight (g), average weight of a fruit (g) and average length of a fruit (cm) were measured at harvest. The yield suitable for market consumption was quantified using a fruit scoring index. Data were analysed using the SAS statistical software through ANOVA. Mean separation was done by using the Tukey method at a 5% probability level. Significantly (p < 0.05) the highest mean plant height (33.4 cm) resulted in T6, while T5 recorded significantly (p < 0.05) the highest leaf count. However, the fresh and dry weights of the plant structural biomass were not significantly (p > 0.05) influenced by the given fertilizer schedules. The significantly greater total number of fruits was recorded by T1 and T2 schedules, while the average weight and length of fruits were not significantly different among the treatments. As per the results of the fruit scoring index, there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference among treatments on the % of fruits in grade 1, 2 and 3. The results indicate that the new fertilizer schedules, based on Mugasol, Densol, Medotec and Complesal fertilizers, are as effective as the control treatment of Albert Solution, as no significant (p > 0.05) differences observed in growth or yield of chili. The new fertilizer schedules utilizing advanced fertilizer types present a promising and effective alternative for growing the MICH-HY1 chilli variety in CEA. This approach provides cultivators with a variety of fertilizer options, eliminating the reliance on a sole type, all while maintaining yield and quality.