INFLUENCE OF PLANT DENSITY AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF SWEET PEPPER (Capsicum annuum) IN UASIN GISHU COUNTY.

Abstract

Sweet pepper well known for its nutritional and medicinal values is also emerging as an important cash crop in the local and international markets. The quality of sweet pepper produced in Uasin Gishu is low thus failing to meet the standard specifications. This has led to rejection in the export market causing heavy losses to the farmers. Plant density and nitrogen are among the many factors which can influence growth, yield and quality of sweet pepper. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of plant density and different nitrogen levels on growth, yield and quality of sweet pepper. The field experiment was conducted from July 2009 to January 2010 in Turbo and Kapseret whereby, three plant densities 70 × 60cm (23,809 plants/ha, low), 70 × 45cm (31.746 plants/ha, intermediate), 70 × 30cm (47,619 plants/ha, high) and five nitrogen levels 0, 40.5, 81 , 121.5 (from CAN)) and 80KgN/ha (from farmyard manure) were combined in a factorial arrangement laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The data was subjected to ANOVA using Genstat statistical package and means separated by Tukey’s Studentized Range (HSD) at P≤0.05. The low and intermediate plant densities significantly hastened the onset of 50% flowering. Low plant density had a significant increase on fruit size as evidenced by increased fruit diameter. Applying 81 kgN/ha significantly hastened the onset of 50% flowering and recorded the lowest pest incidence. The interaction effects of plant density and nitrogen were significant whereby, a treatment combination of 70 × 45cm and 81kgN/ha recorded low pests and disease incidence while producing fruits of the specified diameter size. Turbo site produced vigorously growing sweet pepper plants which were tall, had the highest number of branches, took the shortest time to attain 50% flowering and produced the highest fruit yield. The intermediate plant density (70 × 45cm) and 81 kgN/ha produced high quality fruits and should be adopted by the growers to meet the export market standard. Sweet pepper should be grown in low altitude areas like Turbo for enhanced plant growth and high yield in Uasin Gishu County