INFLUENCE OF SHOOT MANAGEMENT ON GROWTH AND YIELD ATTRIBUTES OF BELL PEPPER IN PROTECTED CONDITION

Abstract

A research was carried out to study the effect of shoot management on growth, yield, and quality attributes of bell pepper in protected condition at Kirtipur, Kathmandu, from March to October 2021. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design with two popular varieties (6008 F1 and Minerva F1) and five levels of shoot management (unpruned, one stem, two stems, three stems, and four stems) with four replications. Observations were recorded on growth, yield, and quality parameters. The response of bell pepper varieties with different levels of shoot management did not differ significantly, however, varieties and shoot management factors differed within factor significantly in selected variables. Minerva F1 was taller with higher number of leaves as compared to 6008 F1. Among different shoot management practices, plants with a single stem recorded a significantly higher plant height (70.28 cm) at 120 DAT. Average fruit length varied with level of shoots, and the performance of two varieties was not found to be significant. Average fruit weight had been influenced by both the varieties and no. of shoots. Average fruit weight (107.78 g) was also significantly higher in 6008 F1 than that of Minerva F1 (94.24 g). Minerva F1 had higher (3.92°Brix) TSS and vitamin C content in comparison with 6008 F1. Fruits from a single stem plant had maximum vitamin C content (112.26 mg/100g and 128.87 mg/100g at 1st and 5th harvest, respectively). Yield per plant was significantly higher in 6008 F1 (3.20 kg) than Minerva F1 (2.76 kg). The highest yield per plant recorded on four stem shoot management (3.44 kg) whereas, lowest yield per plant was from unpruned plants (2.56 kg). Increasing shoot no. from single stem to four stems increased the yield by 34.37%. 6008 F1 recorded a higher yield per plant than Minerva F1. Minerva F1 produced the higher BC-ratio 7.43 than 6008 F1 (2.27). Four stem shoot management produced the highest BC-ratio in both Minerva F1 (8.81) and 6008 F1 (2.55). Considering the economic and desirable attributes, the yellow cultivar Minerva F1 proved to be better in achieving a higher gross return, profit and other quality parameter.