INFLUENCE OF SOWING DATE AND SPACING ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF SWEET PEPPER

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the Horticultural farm of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur, during September 2006 to April 2007 to investigate growth and yield of sweet pepper as influenced by sowing date and spacing. There were altogether 21 treatments comprising seven levels of sowing date viz. September 1, September 15, October 1, October 15, October 30, November 15, November 30 and three levels of spacing viz. 50x50 cm, 50x40 cm, 50x30 cm. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were recorded on various parameters and statistically analyzed. The results of the experiment demonstrated that the majority of growth parameters and yield components v/ere significantly increased at the earlier sowing (October 1 ). The plant spacing had significant variation in almost all the growth and yield components except pericarp thickness. Number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, stem girth, number of fruits per plant, days to first harvest, fruit length, individual fruit weight, yield per plant were found to be significantly increased with the increasing of plant spacing but plant height at different stages, number of fruits per plot, days to 50% flowering, fruit breadth, yield per plot and yield per hectare were found to be significantly increased with the decreasing plant spacing. The combined effect of sowing date and plant spacing also had significant effect on different growth and yield parameter and yield. The highest yield ( 19.36 t/ha) of fruit was recorded from the earlier sowing (October 1) with the closest spacing (50x30 cm) which also gave the highest benefit cost ratio (4.58). Considering the yield of fruits per hectare, cost of production and net return, the treatment combinations of October I sowing along with 50x30cm spacing appeared to be recommendable for the cultivation of sweet pepper.