EFFECT INORGANIC AND ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF SWEET PEPPER (Capsicum 'Sungrow' ).

Abstract

wo experiments were conducted at the Horticulture Fann and Laboratory of Sher-e­ Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from November 2005 to April 2006 to study the growth, yield, and quality (shelf life) of Capsicum a1111uu111 cv. 'Sungrow' as influenced by inorganic and organic fertilizers. The first experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The different sources of organic fertilizers used were; poultry manure T1:30, T2:40, T3:50, T4:60 t/ha; cowdung T5:33, T6:50, T7:66, T8:83 t/ha and inorganic fertilizer was urea: 340, TSP: I 05, MP: 165 kg/ha. The second experiment was conducted with two temperature regimes for determining the shelf life of fruits each having two different conditions (with wrapping and without wrapping). The highest plant height (61.98 cm) was recorded from T~ treatment and the 2nd highest (52.52 cm) from Ts while the plant height (46.99 cm) was recorded from inorganic fertilizer treatment. At 90 days after transplanting, the highest stem diameter (1.61 cm) was recorded from T4 and 1.56 cm was obtained from Tx whereas 1.29 cm was recorded from inorganic fertilizer. The highest fruit yield ( 12.9 t/ha) and the second highest ( 12.00 t/ha) were recorded from T2 and T 6. treatments respectively. The maximum shelf life (35 days) was recorded from poultry manure compared to that of (27 days) from cowdung and inorganic fertilizer (25 days). Maximum shelf life (35 days) was recorded in refrigerated (8-l0°C) condition compared ( 15 days).to normal room temperature (26-30°C). Shelf life of fruit wrapping with thin polythene paper was maximum (35 days) compared to that of non-wrapping (22 days) in refrigerated condition. In normal room temperature condition, shelf life wasl5 days with wrapping and I 0 days without wrapping. Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of the treatments varied from 1.69 to 4.34. The highest BCR (4.34) was calculated in T2 treatment. In connection with growth, yield, shelf life and BCR; T2 treatment showed better performance than the other treatments.