| dc.description.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. | en_US |
