Effect of mulch application and watering frequency on growth and production of chilli (Capsicum annum L)

Abstract

Red chilli is one of vegetable that has a high economic value in Indonesia. One of the factors that influence the growth of chilli is the availability of water which is a limiting factor for chilli plants. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of mulch use and frequency of watering on the growth and yield of chilli plants. The research was conducted in Lampoko Village, Barebbo District, Bone Regency, in Mei-July 2017, used factorial randomized block design with two factors. The first factor was the application mulch (without mulch, organic mulch, and plastic mulch) and the second factor was the frequency of watering (once a day, two times a day, and once in two days). The data obtained were then analyzed for variance and continued with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results showed that the treatment of mulch utilization significantly affected plant height 30 and 60 DAP, number of fruit, weight fruit, and fresh plant weight. The treatment of the frequency of watering significant effect on plant height 30 and 60 DAP, number of fruit, weight fruit, and fresh plant weight. In general, the best growth and production of chilli were obtained in the treatment of the application of plastic mulch with a frequency of watering once a day namely 13,03 t ha−1.