Effect of NPK, organic manure and their combination on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of chilli (Capsicum Annum L.)

Abstract

Chili (Capsicum annum L.) is an important vegetable crop belongs to Solanaceae family also called Nightshade family. In this family, after tomato and potato, chili is the 3rd most significant crop. In Pakistan, chilies are cultivated on commercial scale, covering the largest area after onion and potato. Economically, chilies are grown as cash crop. The genus capsicum contains almost 20 species and only 5 species are cultivated, out of which Capsicum frutescens and Capsicum annum is regularly cultivated all over the world.1 Capsicum frutescence, also called hot peppers, has an extra amount of alkaloid capsaicin (C18H2703) which is credible for the pungency.2 Lack of increased production skills is considered one of the important causes of minimum yield as well as low quality of chilli.3 In Pakistani soils, the organic matter content is getting smaller over time, and this reduction continues by dint of intensive cultivation of crops which are high yielding as these crops eliminate the vital elements from soil.4 The balance in addition and reduction of certain vital elements is compulsory for sustainability of a good cropping system.5 In agriculture sector, usually imbalanced quantity of chemical fertilizers is used, therefore highest yield could not be attained. Moreover, use of urea as chemical fertilizer by the farmers is being practiced without adding any organic fertilizer which causes hurdle for sustainable agricultural cropping system.6