Assessment of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Hybrids for Growth and Yield Characters

Abstract

Chilli hybrids are grown on Kamuthi and Paramakudi blocks of Ramanathapuram district on nearly 50 ha area. Assessment of chilli hybrids for growth, yield and higher productivity was conducted at five different farmers’ fields during the year 2017–18 under on farm testing. TNAU Co (Ch) 1, Arka Harita, Arka Meghana and local variety were used in this study. The results revealed that TNAU CO (Ch)1 hybrid recorded the highest values for growth, yield and cost economics traits. The growth characters like plant height (49.63 cm), number of fruits/plant (82.50), fruit weight (5.60 g) and fruit length (10.89 cm) observed the highest values in TNAU Co (Ch)1 followed by Arka Harita as (48.50cm; 78.30; 5.31g and 10.19 cm whereas local hybrid recorded the lowest values for all the traits. Arka Harita took the minimum number of days of 50 per cent flowering (43). Regarding yield, TNAU CO (Ch)1 hybrid recorded the highest plant yield (449.20 g) and yield/ha (16.76 t/ha) followed by Arka Harita (413.0 g; 15.47 t/ha) whereas local check recorded the lowest yield of 13.14 t/ha. In the case of benefit cost ratio, CO (Ch)1 recorded the highest ratio of 3.03 with the net profit of 1,34,920 followed by Arka Harita (2.85) whereas local check observed the lowest B:C ratio (2.19) and net profit of Rs. 83,200. TNAU CO (Ch)1 hybrid is performed well and increased yield of 27 per cent with good market preference over the farmers practices. Due to highest yield TNAU CO (Ch)1 was found to be the most suitable chillies hybrid under Ramanthapuram condition.