INFLUENCE OF NPK (15:15:15) AND ORGANO-MINERAL FERTILIZER ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PEPPER

^1*Osumah A.B. and ²Tijani Eniola H.

Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Email address: abumighty@yahoo.com                                                  

ABSTRACT

A study was carried out in 2005 cropping season to determine the response of pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) and organo-mineral fertilizer (OMF) in oxic paleustaff at parry road University of Ibadan (7⁰21N 3⁰ 54 E).  The experimental layout was a randomized complete block design with seven treatments; control (No soil additive), 50kgha^-1NPK, 100kgha^-1NPK, 150kgha^-1 NPK, 2.5tonha^-1 OMF +50kgha^-1NPK and 2.5tonha^-1OMF + 100kgha^-1NPK. The experiment was replicated three times. The parameters observed were plant height, number of leaves, plant branches, and number of fruit per plant and fresh weight of fruit.

Soil samples were taken randomly at different location on the experimental plot to the depth of 15cm. Routine analysis was carried out to determine the physical and chemical properties of the soil before planting. However, the nutrient status of the soil was found to be lower to the critical range for optimum crop production.

Result obtained showed that 100kgha^-1 NPK (15:15:15) was significantly improved pepper plant height, number of leaves, plant branches, number of fruit per plant and fresh weight of fruit than other treatments. The result showed that optimum yield of pepper could be achieved with the application of 100kgha^-1NPK (15:15:15). Key words: Pepper, NPK Fertilizer, Organo-mineral fertilizer