PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF HOT PEPPER (CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS L) AS INFLUENCED BY PRICKING OUT AND STARTER SOLUTION

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the experimental field of the University for Development Studies at Nyankpala between April-November. 2009 to determine the effects of pricking out and starter solution application to seedlings on the growth and yield of hot pepper. The experimental design was 2 x 2 factorial in completely randomized design with three replications. A starter solution (10 g NPK, 15: 15: 15, mixed with 15 I of water) was applied to some pricked out and non-pricked out seedlings immediately after planting out (6 weeks after sowing in the field).. The treatment combinations were: Pricked-out seedlings which were given starter solution (PIS}, pricked out seedlings without starter solution (P l,), non-pricked out seedlings which were given starter solution (P cPI)and control plants which were neither pricked out nor received starter solution (PcP/ The study revealed that plants that were pricked out and / or received starter solution had better vegetative growth and gave over three times higher yield as compared to the control plants. The results suggest the adoption of pricking out and the application of starter solution to pepper seedlings as appropriate means of increasing yield and maximizing profit in pepper cultivation.