Influence of plant density and nitrogen application on growth and quality of sweet pepper (capsicum annuum) in Uasin Gishu county

Abstract

Sweet pepper an important export in Uasin Gishu had been facing a problem of rejection at the international market due to failure to meet the specified quality standards. The field experiment was conducted during the short rainy season between July 2009 January 2010 in Turbo and Kapseret aimed at determining the influence of plant density and nitrogen on the growth and quality of sweet pepper. Three plant densities; 23,809 plants / ha (70 × 60 cm), 31,746 plants / ha (70 × 45 cm), 47, 619 plants / ha (70 × 30 cm ) and 4 nitrogen levels 0, 40.5, 81 , 121.5 (from CAN) and 80 kg N /ha (from farmyard manure) were combined in a factorial arrangement laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Growth Parameters recorded included plant height, number of branches and number of days to attainment of 50% flowering. Quality parameters of fruit diameter, mechanical damage and pest incidence were captured during harvesting. The data was subjected to ANOVA using Genstat statistical package and means separated by Tukey’s Studentized Range (HSD) at P≤0.05. Plant height and the number of branches increased at low plant density. The interaction effects of plant density and nitrogen were significant whereby, a treatment combination of 70 × 45 cm and 81 kg N / ha recorded low pests and disease incidence while producing fruits with the specified diameter size (40 – 44 mm). Turbo site produced vigorously growing sweet pepper plants which were tall, had the highest number of branches with no incidence of mechanical damage and blossom end rot recorded. The intermediate plant density (70 × 45 cm) and 81 kg N/ha produced fruits with the specified diameter size and recorded low pests and diseases incidence and should be adopted by the growers to meet the export market standard. Sweet pepper should be grown in lower altitude areas like Turbo for enhanced plant growth and high quality fruits in Uasin Gishu County.