Effect of organic fertilizer on the growth and fruit yield of six paprika (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annum</Emphasis> L.<Emphasis Type="Italic">)</Emphasis> cultivars in Malawi |
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| Authors: | Gudeta W Sileshi Festus K Akinnifesi France M Gondwe Oluyede C Ajayi Simon Mng’omba Konisaga Mwafongo |
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| Institution: | (1) World Agroforestry Centre, Southern Africa Regional Agroforestry Programme, Chitedze Agricultural Research Station, P.O. Box 30798, Lilongwe, Malawi;(2) Department of Agricultural Economics, Bunda College of Agriculture, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi |
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| Abstract: | The production of paprika (Capsicum annum L.) under small-scale farm conditions in southern Africa is constrained by low soil fertility and lack of appropriate cultivars.
The objective of this study was to determine the growth responses and fruit yields of six cultivars of paprika to organic
and inorganic nutrient sources. The study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 at Chitedze Agricultural Research Station in Malawi.
A combination of six paprika cultivars and four nutrient sources, namely (1) organic input from Gliricidia, (Gliricidia sepium) biomass, (2) inorganic fertilizer, (3) integrated nutrient input (Gliricidia biomass + inorganic fertilizer), and (4) control
(no nutrient input) were compared. Each combination was replicated five times. A split-plot design was used where nutrient
sources formed the main plot and cultivars the sub-plots. Plant height differed due to nutrient source in 2007 and 2008, while
differences due to cultivar were minor. The control plots produced the shortest plants (height < 50 cm), while plots receiving
the integrated nutrient input produced the tallest plants (height > 60 cm). Numbers of branches and fruits per plant differed
due to nutrient source and cultivar during most of the study period. Plants receiving either organic inputs (Gliricidia biomass)
alone or the integrated nutrient input alone had significantly higher stem, leaf and fruit weight compared with the control.
Average fruit yield was lower in control plots than in plots receiving the organic input alone or the integrated nutrient
input. Among cultivars, Papri-King, Papri-Supreme and Papri-Queen produced higher dry fruit yield. The ASTA and RAL colour
rating was within the internationally accepted range for fruit from the treatments. |
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