The Effect of Lateral Shoot Number Manipulation on the Capsicum frutescens var Centel Growth and Yield

Abstract

Bird’s eye chilli (Capsicum frutescens), widely grown in Malaysia, is a high value cash crop. Cultivation of chilli had been done using conventional method and fertigation system. There were increasing suggestion and demands for improvement in cultural practices, including growing techniques, nutrition, pest and disease control, irrigation, planting media and seed availability to increase crop yields. Therefore, this study was done to increase the yield the Capsicum frutescens var Centel by manipulating the number of lateral shoot. This study was carried on both conventional and fertigation planting systems. The treatments used in the study were as follows: control—all lateral shoots were removed; T1—two lateral shoots left; T2—four lateral shoots left; T3—five lateral shoots left; T4—seven lateral shoots left, and T5—no lateral shoot was removed. Results indicated that there were similar patterns in term of yields between treatment in both conventional planting and fertigation system after 6 months of planting periods. The highest yields were obtained in T2 from both fertigation system (1600 ± 150 g) and conventional planting (1200 ± 110 g). However, there were no significant difference between T2 and T3 in both cultivation systems. The lowest yields were recorded in T5 for fertigation system (800 ± 80 g) and in control for conventional planting (500 + 65 g). This study revealed that by removing and leaved 4–5 lateral shoots can increase the yield of Capsicum frutescens in conventional planting than fertigation system.