Work

Enhancing growth, yield, and nutritional value of Capsicum Annuum: Evaluating micronutrient efficiency and varietal performance

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates the effects of chili variety, micronutrient application efficiency, and their interaction on the growth, yield, and quality attributes of chili (Capsicum spp.) over two consecutive years. The experiment was conducted in split-plot design with three replications. Three chili varieties (V1=Sikarpuri, V2=Sakata-653, V3=Picnic) and three micronutrient application methods (M1: Broadcasting, M2: Spraying, M3: 50% Broadcasting + 50% Spraying) and their interactions were examined. For this the variety were assigned in main plot and micronutrient in sub-plot. The results revealed that the interaction of variety and micronutrient application efficiency in V3M3 treatment demonstrated superior growth characteristics, including increased plant height, number of leaves, earlier flowering, and higher fruit count. Yield parameters such as fruit length, diameter, fresh weight, dry weight, and seed weight were significantly enhanced by the interaction of variety and micronutrient application efficiency. The highest fruit length (13.25 cm) and seed weight (0.39 g) were observed in V3M3 treatments. Fresh fruit weight per plant peaked at 193.37 g in V3M3, while the highest fresh fruit yield per hectare (9.72 t/ha) was obtained from the same treatment. V3M3 produced the highest vitamin C (96.101 mg/100 g) and sugar content (1.624%). The interaction of V3M3 yielded the highest protein content (1.085%) and ash percentage (1.58%). Conversely, the lowest quality values were observed in the V2M1 and V1M1 combinations. These findings suggest that the combined use of variety and micronutrients in V3M3 treatments enhanced growth yield and quality attributes, providing a valuable insight for improved chili cultivation strategies.

Source: Journal of Agriculture and Food Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101945