Effects of eco-green and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer rates on growth and green pod yield of hot pepper (Capsicum annum L.) in Bahir Dar Zuria District of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Hot pepper (Capsicum annum L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops produced in Ethiopia. However, production and productivity of the crop is far below the world average, which is mostly associated with soil fertility depletions as a result of inappropriate application of fertilizer. Therefore, this field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of organic eco-green and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer on the growth and green pod yield of hot pepper during the growing season of 2019/2020. The experiment was designed in factorial combinations of four levels of N (0, 59, 82 and 105 kg ha−1) and four levels of eco-green (0, 75, 125 and 175 L ha−1) which were laid down in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Results revealed that application of N and eco-green (EG) fertilizers very highly significantly (P < 0.001) influenced plant height, numbers of different levels of branches, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% pod setting, days to first harvest, marketable, unmarketable and total green pod yields. Generally, the combination of high levels of nitrogen and EG increased the growth parameters of hot pepper including plant height and number of branches. The highest marketable (17.98 t ha−1) and total green pod yield (18.19 t ha−1) of hot pepper were recorded from the treatment combinations of 59 kg N ha−1 and 125 litter EG ha−1. The same treatment combination had also recorded the highest net benefit (318,516.91 ETB ha−1) with acceptable marginal rate of return (1706%) which can be recommended for economical production of green hot pepper in the study area and areas with similar agro-ecology.