Pepper Production Research Articles

Effects of biofertilizer on the production of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in greenhouse

Biological fertilizers are useful sources of plant nutrients that enhance crop growth and quality, produce plant hormones, and contribute to sustainable crop production by maintaining soil fertility. The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) applications in greenhouses on bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. Nervin) has been studied by conducting a split plot experiment in three replications using a randomized complete block design. The biofertilizers included AMF inoculations (Rhizophagus irregularis + Funneliformis mosseae), and three different bacterial inoculations (Azotobacter chroococcum + Azospirillum lipoferum; Enterobacter cloacae + Pseudomonas putida; Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) and non-inoculation as a control with two levels of organic fertilizers (with and without).The organic treatment fertilizer, in combination with the inoculation of E. cloacae + P. putida or A. chroococcum + A. lipoferum, as well as AMF, significantly increased the microbial population within the rhizosphere compared to the control. In all treatments, fruit yield increased, with the highest value (15.94 kg m−2) recorded in the AMF treatment, indicating an increase of 18% over the control. All inoculations significantly increased total phenol and ascorbic acid levels in fruit when organic fertilizer was applied. The most significant N uptake was observed in A. crococcum + A. lipoform inoculation, while the most significant Fe uptake was observed in AMF. It was found that all inoculations significantly increased P, K, and Zn uptake. In conclusion, A combination of organic fertilizer and mycorrhizal or (Azotobacter chroococcum + Azospirillum lipoferum) inoculations increased the productivity and quality of bell peppers grown in greenhouses.

Maturity Recognition and Fruit Counting for Sweet Peppers in Greenhouses Using Deep Learning Neural Networks

This study presents an approach to address the challenges of recognizing the maturity stage and counting sweet peppers of varying colors (green, yellow, orange, and red) within greenhouse environments. The methodology leverages the YOLOv5 model for real-time object detection, classification, and localization, coupled with the DeepSORT algorithm for efficient tracking. The system was successfully implemented to monitor sweet pepper production, and some challenges related to this environment, namely occlusions and the presence of leaves and branches, were effectively overcome. We evaluated our algorithm using real-world data collected in a sweet pepper greenhouse. A dataset comprising 1863 images was meticulously compiled to enhance the study, incorporating diverse sweet pepper varieties and maturity levels. Additionally, the study emphasized the role of confidence levels in object recognition, achieving a confidence level of 0.973. Furthermore, the DeepSORT algorithm was successfully applied for counting sweet peppers, demonstrating an accuracy level of 85.7% in two simulated environments under challenging conditions, such as varied lighting and inaccuracies in maturity level assessment.

Effect of Different Salt Additions on the Flavor Profile of Fermented Ciba Pepper

Salt is a key ingredient that can both enhance the taste and extend the shelf life of fermented vegetables. However, it is important to note that excessive salt levels can have adverse effects on consumer health. This study aimed to investigate the impact of various salt additions (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% wt/wt) on the flavor profile of fermented ciba pepper, a traditional Chinese fermented chili sauce, using gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) in combination with an electronic nose (E-nose). Fermented ciba pepper samples were prepared with different salt additions: 2% (LJA), 4% (LJB), 6% (LJC), 8% (LJD), and 10% (LJE) (wt/wt). The physicochemical and sensory properties of the fermented ciba pepper samples were evaluated. Sensory evaluation indicated that LJC and LJD received higher scores compared to the other groups. The total acid and amino acid nitrogen contents displayed contrasting trends with the salt additions (p < 0.05). The E-nose analysis successfully differentiated the flavor profiles of the ciba pepper samples fermented with varying salt additions. Additionally, the GC-IMS analysis identified a total of 72 volatile compounds, including 14 alcohols, 21 esters, nine aldehydes, four acids, eight ketones, three terpenes, and eight other substances. Notably, the ciba pepper samples with lower salt additions exhibited higher levels of alcohols, aldehydes, and esters. In conclusion, the addition of salt during the fermentation process significantly influenced the formation of flavor compounds in ciba pepper. This study provides valuable insights into ciba pepper fermentation with different salt additions and offers prospects for the development of low-salt fermented ciba pepper products.

Comparative Transcriptomics Analysis Reveals the Differences in Transcription between Resistant and Susceptible Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Varieties in Response to Anthracnose.

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a herbaceous plant species in the family Solanaceae. Capsicum anthracnose is caused by the genus Colletotrichum. spp., which decreases pepper production by about 50% each year due to anthracnose. In this study, we evaluated the resistance of red ripe fruits from 17 pepper varieties against anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum capsici. We assessed the size of the lesion diameter and conducted significance analysis to identify the resistant variety of B158 and susceptible variety of B161. We selected a resistant cultivar B158 and a susceptible cultivar B161 of pepper and used a transcription to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the plant's resistance to C. capsici, of which little is known. The inoculated fruit from these two varieties were used for the comparative transcription analysis, which revealed the anthracnose-induced differential transcription in the resistant and susceptible pepper samples. In the environment of an anthrax infection, we found that there were more differentially expressed genes in resistant varieties compared to susceptible varieties. Moreover, the response to stimulus and stress ability was stronger in the KANG. The transcription analysis revealed the activation of plant hormone signaling pathways, phenylpropanoid synthesis, and metabolic processes in the defense response of peppers against anthracnose. In addition, ARR-B, AP2-EREBP, bHLH, WRKY, and NAC are associated with disease resistance to anthracnose. Notably, WRKY and NAC were found to have a potentially positive regulatory role in the defense response against anthracnose. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the resistance mechanisms of red pepper fruit to anthracnose infection, providing valuable molecular insights for further research on the resistance mechanisms and genetic regulations during this developmental stage of pepper.

Synergistic Influence of Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation with Nanoparticle Foliar Application Enhances Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) Antioxidant Enzymes, Anatomical Characteristics, and Productivity under Cold-Stress Conditions.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus (AMF) inoculation, foliar application of zinc oxide and selenium nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs and Se-NPs), and their combined interactions on the growth and productivity of chili pepper under cold-stress conditions. Two field experiments were successfully conducted during the winter seasons of 2021 and 2022 in an experimental field at the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. The results showed that, under cold stress, the combination of AMF inoculation and ZnO-NPs + Se-NPs as a foliar spray increased the average fruit weight by 92.4% and 98.7%, and the number of fruits by 34.6% and 54.8 compared to control treatment in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively. Additionally, the combination of AMF and a mixture of nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs + Se-NPs) significantly increased the total marketable yield by 95.8% and 94.7% compared to the control, which recorded values of 2.4 and 1.9 kg m-2 in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively. Furthermore, the combination of AMF and a mixture of nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs + Se-NPs) showed the highest total content of ascorbic acid and capsaicin in chili fruits compared to the other treatments. The combination of AMF and a mixture of nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs + Se-NPs) stimulated the accumulation of peroxidase (POD) and nitrogen glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) while decreasing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) contents. SDS analysis revealed that the application of ZnO-NPs, Se-NPs, AMF + ZnO-NPs, and AMF + ZnO-NPs + Se-NPs induced the emergence of new protein bands and reconstitution of those damaged by cold stress. Regarding histological structure, the combination of AMF inoculation and ZnO-NPs + Se-NPs as a foliar spray showed an enhancement in the thickness of grana thylakoids and increased the number of chloroplasts. Intriguingly, the findings showed that AMF and a mixture of nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs + Se-NPs) could offer guidance for increasing plant development and productivity under cold-stress conditions.

Unveiling the Economic Potential of Smallholder Pepper Production in the Kumbungu District of Northern Ghana

This study examines the economic benefits and constraints associated with smallholder pepper production in the Kumbungu District of Northern Ghana. Using a multistage sampling method and semi-structured questionnaire, data were gathered from 200 pepper producers from various communities within the district. Gross Margin analysis, descriptive statistics and Kendall’s Concordance method were employed to analyze the data. The results revealed that male farmers dominated with 88% whiles the remaining 12% were women, the mean age of the respondent was 34.21. Majority of the respondents were married (72.5%) while the remaining were single (27.5%) with no divorcees or widows. 85.5% cultivate pepper on farm size between 1.1 to 2.0 hectares with relatively highest mean productivity. In addition, pepper production in the study area is profitable due to GH₵1.98 return for every GH₵1 invested. Major factors identified and ranked as the main constraints in order of importance were; Insufficient working capital, High cost of production inputs, Low level of government support, Inadequate storage facilities, Perishable nature of pepper, Poor mode of transportation, long distance to market, difficulty in getting land for production and insufficient knowledge in pepper production. Therefore, NGOs and Financial institutions who have interest in agriculture should offer credit facilities to pepper farmers for expanding production. The provision of incentive in the form of subsidy, cost-sharing, price control among others should be instituted by the Government, MOFA and Non-Governmental Organization to aid in the expansion of pepper production in the study area.

Effects of sheep manure, plant population and nitrogen levels on growth and fresh fruit yield of chilli pepper (<i>Capsicum frutescence</i> l.) at Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria

Field experiments were conducted between 2004 and 2006 at the Institute for Agricultural Research Farm, Samaru Zaria in the Northern guinea savannah ecological zone of Nigeria, to study the response of chilli pepper (Capsicum frutescence L.) to sheep manure, plant population and nitrogen levels. Treatments evaluated consisted of four levels of sheep manure rates (0 t, 5 t, 10 t, and15 t ha-1), three plant populations (22,222; 44,444; and 66,666 plants ha1) and four rates of Nitrogen (0kg,60kg 120kg and 180 kg N ha1). The treatments were laid out in a split plot design and replicated three times. Result showed that application of sheep manure produced about significant increase in number of branches by 80%, similarly number of fruits increased by more than 600% and fresh fruit yields (Kg ha-1) recorded 57% increase over the control. Plant population was observed to significantly increase in the number of fruits per plant with 22,222 and 44,444plant/ha recording similar values, but higher number of fruits produced per plant than 66,666 plants ha-1 However, fresh fruit yield of Chilli pepper was not significantly influenced by plant population. The use of 120kgN ha1 resulted in increased number of branches, fruit per plant and fresh fruit yields by 57 and 60% respectively over non fertilized plants. Application of sheep manure at 10 t ha1, +44,444plants ha and 120kgN ha could be recommended for the production of chilli pepper under rain fed condition in Northern Guinea savannah.

Potential of Native Microflora of Banana, Chili and Garlic Intercropping System for Bio-control of Rhizoctonia solani Causing Root Rot of Chili

Root rot disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani is a serious problem in chili pepper production, leading to significant crop loss and reduced yield. The chemical control method for controlling this soil borne disease is not preferred due environmental concerns and harmful effect on beneficial soil microflora. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for safer and sustainable approaches. In the present investigation which was conducted in laboratory of the Department of Plant Pathology and Nematology, RPCAU, Pusa, Bihar during the year 2021-23, the microflora isolated from the rhizosphere of Banana+Chili+Garlic intercropping system were evaluated for their effectiveness against Rhizoctonia solani causing root rot in Chili. In course of study the isolates of Trichoderma and Bacillus significantly reduced the radial growth of Rhizoctonia solani. The maximum growth inhibition was recorded by the Trichoderma isolate - GITr5 causing 71.40 % inhibition of the pathogen growth. This was followed by CITr4 with 67.41% and BITr1 with 62.86 %inhibition of the pathogen. Among the bacterial isolates, The isolate CIRB1 was found to inhibit the target pathogen by 71.22% followed by BIRB8 causing 66.92% inhibition of the pathogen.

Fusarium Species Causing Pepper Wilt in Russia: Molecular Identification and Pathogenicity.

Fusarium wilt pathogens represent an ongoing threat to pepper production worldwide. This is the first report providing data on the molecular identification of Fusarium fungi that cause wilt in pepper in the southern regions of Russia. Monitoring of the Fusarium infection on pepper was carried out in 2019-2022 in two economically important regions of this culture production: the Krasnodar Krai and Crimea. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of the translation elongation factor (EF1a) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), as well as the macro- and micromorphological characteristics of the fungi, the causative agents of Fusarium wilt have been identified. The causative agents identified as representatives of the Fusarium species composition included: F. clavus, F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. verticillioides, F. commune, F. torulosum, and F. sporotrichioides. Depending on the region, the specifics of biodiversity and the ratio of these species in pathocomplexes were noted. In Crimea, wilting could be attributed to all of the identified species; in the Krasnodar Krai, F. verticillioides and F. clavus were found to contribute to wilting. The pathogenicity test showed that the pathogens of pepper wilting in Russia, in addition to the already known F. oxysporum and F. solani, are the species F. clavus and F. verticillioides. This is the first report on the ability of these species to cause Fusarium wilt in pepper cultures. The obtained data will be of practical value for the development of biological control measures for fungi of the genus Fusarium, which cause pepper wilt in areas of industrial production and seed production. In addition, data on species composition and aggressive isolates will be used in a pepper breeding program for resistance to Fusarium wilt.

Land Suitability for Pepper in Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province, Indonesia

Pepper is one of the local commodities developed in Indonesia and has become an export commodity. Improving the productivity of pepper can be done through sustainable land management based on the characteristics of soils and their potential. Therefore, land suitability evaluation is needed to maximize land potential and minimize inhibiting factors for pepper plant growth. This study evaluated the characteristics, potential, and distribution of suitable land for pepper plant development in Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province, Indonesia. Land suitability was evaluated by matching land characteristics with land suitability criteria for pepper plants. This criterion consists of four classes, namely highly suitable (S1), moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), and not suitable (N). The soil's climate and physical and chemical properties were the land characteristics data used. Potential land availability was arranged based on land suitability classes by considering existing land use and forest area status. Soil types in Tanggamus Regency are Inceptisols, Entisols, Alfisols, Andisols, Oxisols, and Ultisols, with the most extensive distribution of soil types being Oxisol (Typic Hapludox). The distribution of relief in Tanggamus Regency is dominated by mountainous areas with very steep slopes (slope >40%). Land suitability classes are moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), and not suitable (N) with limiting factors, namely drainage, texture, soil pH, and erosion hazard/slope. Improvement can be made by planting according to contours, planting cover crops, applying lime and organic matter, and ensuring balanced fertilization. The development of pepper plants in Tanggamus Regency can be achieved through diversification and extensification, with a total area of potential land that can be developed of 73,995 ha.
 
 Keywords: land potential, land evaluation, limiting factor, pepper, soil characteristics

Impact of climate change on cayenne pepper availability in Sleman District, Yogyakarta with dynamic system modelling

The availability of cayenne pepper in Sleman District is influenced by cayenne pepper production factors and demand of consumers. Climate change greatly affects the demand and supply of cayenne pepper. The value of Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) in the dynamic system model is 5.18%. The simulation of Cayenne Pepper availability scenarios in the Sleman District that was made scenarios by rule of the Government to increase of planting area by 20 ha per year. The other scenarios were changing a temperature increase 1 degree Celsius and increase of 2 degrees Celsius. The result of the research showed that first scenario made the supply of cayenne pepper decrease 15 %/year. The second scenario made the supply of cayenne pepper will be decrease up to 30 %/year in 2024-2030. It means that the temperature change can influence significantly with the supply of cayenne pepper in Sleman District. Moreover, the supply has not been fulfil to the very high demand by consumers of households, Industries and Horeca (Hotel, restaurant and catering) in this district.

Comparison of growth, viability, sporulation, and virulence of Phytophthora capsici isolated from black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) on various media.

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is an important agricultural crop in Indonesia. However, black pepper production in Indonesia is limited by plant pathogen infection, especially Phytophthora capsici, which causes Foot Rot in pepper plants. This pathogen contributes to a high decline in black pepper productivity. This study aims to determine the proper media composition for P. capsici growth based on the mycelial growth, viability, sporulation, and virulence of P. capsici on pepper leaves. The media used in this study were potato dextrose agar (PDA), martin agar (MA), carrot agar (CA), water agar (WA), corn meal agar (CMA), soil extract agar (SEA), and vegetable 8 (V8). The results showed that CMA media was the most optimal medium for P. capsici growth, as indicated by the size of the mycelium with a diameter of 8.00 cm on the fifth day after inoculation. The viability of mycelium of P. capsici was best found on PDA, CMA, and V8 media. Meanwhile, the optimum sporulation and virulence of P. capsici occurred on SEA media, characterized by zoospore production of 5.42x106/ml and symptom areas on leaves of 18.61 cm2 and 16.69 cm2.

Classification of Pepper Seeds by Machine Learning Using Color Filter Array Images.

The purpose of this work is to classify pepper seeds using color filter array (CFA) images. This study focused specifically on Penja pepper, which is found in the Litoral region of Cameroon and is a type of Piper nigrum. India and Brazil are the largest producers of this variety of pepper, although the production of Penja pepper is not as significant in terms of quantity compared to other major producers. However, it is still highly sought after and one of the most expensive types of pepper on the market. It can be difficult for humans to distinguish between different types of peppers based solely on the appearance of their seeds. To address this challenge, we collected 5618 samples of white and black Penja pepper and other varieties for classification using image processing and a supervised machine learning method. We extracted 18 attributes from the images and trained them in four different models. The most successful model was the support vector machine (SVM), which achieved an accuracy of 0.87, a precision of 0.874, a recall of 0.873, and an F1-score of 0.874.

Perception of Peasant Management Methods for Chilli Pepper (Capsicum spp.) Production in Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, pepper is increasingly cultivated and is one of the vegetable crops with a high market value. However, knowledge about farmers’ management practices that could help in research questions on this crop are less available. The aim of this study is to understand farmers’ practices in chilli cultivation in Burkina Faso. A survey on chilli cultivation practices involving 384 growers was carried out in 20 of the country’s provinces, divided in three phytogeographical sectors. The collected data were subjected to descriptive and statistical analysis using EXCEL 2016 spreadsheet and R 4.1.2 software with the Rcmdr Package. The results showed that predominantly male growers (92.19%) practice monoculture of chilli (87.24%) over two seasons (winter and dry). The seeds were obtained through a selection at field level (80.91%) at least over two production seasons, and by purchase (55.18%). For 87.24% of the respondents, the crop is produced in small area (less than a quarter of a hectare). The main constraints in chilli production are the faint accessibility to chemical fertilizers and micro-credits, the attacks due to bio-aggressors, etc. These constraints limit the sector’s performance and deserve to be analyzed in order to find solutions to boost the production. How to Cite: WAONGO Lucienne, KIEBRE Mariam, OUEDRAOGO Jacques, et. al., 2024. "Perception of Peasant Management Methods for Chilli Pepper (Capsicum spp.) Production in Burkina Faso." Journal of Agriculture and Crops, vol. 10, pp. 42-49.

Effects of High Concentration-Short Time and Low Concentration-Long Time Ozone Treatments on Growth and Aflatoxin B1 Production of Aspergillus flavus in Red Pepper

ABSTRACT The effects of high concentration-short time (HCST) and low concentration-long time (LCLT) gaseous ozone treatments on growth and aflatoxin B1 production of Aspergillus flavus in semi-dried red pepper are presented for the first time in this paper. Potato dextrose agar (PDA) media and peppers were inoculated with a toxigenic strain of A. flavus and exposed to either HCST (1500 μL L−1 for 1–8 h) or LCLT (0.1 μL L−1 for 8 d) ozone treatments. Both treatments significantly inhibited A. flavus growth in PDA and peppers (p < 0.05). In pepper samples, fungal count reductions obtained by HCST and LCLT ozone treatments were around 1.57 and 1.66 log, respectively. However, the inhibitory effect decreased in time which shows that the fungus rapidly develops a resistance to ozone. The amounts of aflatoxin B1 produced in PDA and pepper were also significantly reduced (by more than 85%) by the treatments (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate the potential of ozone treatments in preventing fungal contamination and aflatoxin production in red pepper.

Effects of phosphorus and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the quality of chili pepper fruits

The aim of this work was to assess the effects of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and P doses on the quality of chili pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum var. annuum) of plants grown under greenhouse conditions. Fruit production, size and quality of chili fruits (total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, mineral composition and capsaicinoids content) were assessed. Inoculated plants had increased number of fruits per plant compared to non-inoculated plants. The best response was obtained at low soil P concentrations. The pepper plants had a good mycorrhizal dependency. However, root colonization tended to decrease with increasing soil phosphorus availability. Regarding fruit quality, inoculated plants showed increased N, P, K, Mg, B and Cu contents, size and capsaicinoids content compared to plants without fungus. On the other hand, non-inoculated plants showed higher soluble solids content, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content. In general, the mycorrhizal inoculation and low soil P concentration is an alternative to provide a greater production of chili peppers, as well as improved nutritional status and pungency of fruits.

Studies on production of Anaheim pepper in greenhouse media supplemented with organic and inorganic nutrient sources, and water conservation

An experiment was conducted in the greenhouse to study growth, development, yield and water-use by Anahein pepper grown in a potting mixture supplemented with MiracleGro® (9:4:12) and milled alfalfa (3:1:2) as sources of nutrient. The study was comprised of 5 treatments, control (C), 3 gL-1 MiracleGro® (MG), 9 g alfalfa mill supplement (SA-1), 18 g (SA-2), and 27 g (SA-3), and replicated 6 times. Ten physiological and morphological parameters were used to evaluate growth, development and yield of the Anaheim pepper, and two parameters used to evaluate the water holding capacity of the potting mixture. The results indicate that the potting medium supplemented with alfalfa mill required significantly less water to support growth and development of the species. Also, growth, development and yield of Anaheim pepper was significantly higher in the organic supplements at SA-2 and SA-3.

Effects of organic amendment with licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root residue and humic acid on the vegetative growth, fruit yield, and mineral absorption of bell pepper (Capsicum annum)

During industrial licorice production, considerable amounts of licorice root residues (LRR) are produced. The use of these residues as an agricultural production input could be beneficial to sustainable economic growth and the environment. Therefore, we evaluated the application of LRR to some growth media at (v/v) [100% soil (S), 100% LRR (L), 50% soil + 50% LRR (SL), 50% perlite + 50% LRR (PL), 50% cocopeat + 50% LRR (CL), and 25% soil + 25% perlite + 25% cocopeat + 25% LRR (SPCL)] plus humic acid (HA) (0, 5, 10, or 15 gl−1) during bell pepper production. Results showed that LRR application plus HA fertigation significantly improved the vegetative and reproductive growth and mineral content of pepper. The highest fresh weight (shoot and root), plant height, root length, leaf number, and chlorophyll content were observed for plants treated with SPCL + 15 gl−1 HA. The highest number of flowers (18.08), fruits per plant, fruit length and diameter, fruit fresh weight, and yield were associated with the peppers grown under SPCL. Deformed fruits significantly increased in the S treatment whereas no deformed fruits were observed under the SPCL treatment. The highest leaf K, Ca, Fe, and Zn contents were observed in the medium culture containing 25% LRR (SPCL) + 15 gl−1 HA. The findings revealed that the use of SPCL + 15 gl−1 HA fertigation could provide the best conditions for fruit production by bell pepper.

Assessment of the Performance of Drip-Irrigated Green Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) under Poly-House and Open-Field Conditions

Sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.) is one of an important group of vegetables grown extensively, widely cultivated and used as foods in almost every country of the world. It is a high productivity crop, it has high remunerative and nutritive values. Sweet pepper consumption in Nigeria is growing recently because of increasing demand by rural and urban consumers as a result of rapid population growth and water scarcity calls for an alternative means of production system for sustenance of the human race. The experiment was carried out during the dry seasons of 2020.2021 and 2021/2022 at the Teaching and Research Field of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. The beds were prepared, nursery was raised, drip irrigation system was installed and fumigation was carried out before transplanting. The experimental design was a randomized complete block (RCBD) with nine replications in each environment. The same design was applied to both poly-house and open-field conditions. The factors are environment (poly-house and open-field) and irrigation intervals of 5, 6 and 7 days (I5, I6 and I7). Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) was used for multiple comparison. Drip irrigation was applied to all plots at different irrigation intervals. Number of leaves (NL), plant height (PH), stem girth (SG) and weight of fresh fruit (WFF) were recorded. The respective results of performance of green pepper at different irrigation treatments under poly-house and open-field in the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 growing seasons were: NL-I5: 180, I6: 185, I7: 171 and I5: 120, I6: 139, I7: 122 in 2020/2021 growing season while I5: 157, I6: 173, I7: 160 and I5: 108.3, I6: 118.3, I7: 118 during 2021/2022 growing season. PH-I5: 128.7, I6: 139.3, I7: 125.3 and I5: 108.3, I6: 118.3, I7: 104.7 cm in 2020/2021 growing season while I5: 117.7, I6: 129.7, I7: 120 and I5: 102, I6: 115, I7: 99.3 cm during 2021/2022 growing season. SG-I5: 30, I6: 29.7, I7: 29.6 and I5: 25.1, I6: 26, I7: 25 mm in 2020/2021 growing season while I5: 20.3, I6: 23.3, I7: 21.3 and I5: 18.5, I6: 20, I7: 17.9 mm during 2021/2022 growing season. WFF-I5: 20.3, I6: 29.2, I7: 19.8 and I5: 13.3.1, I6: 21, I7: 14.2 kg/m2 in 2020/2021 growing season while I5: 14.6, I6: 23.5, I7: 14.7 and I5: 9.5, I6: 17.8, I7: 8.8 kg/m2 during 2021/2022 growing season. The controlled conditions provided by the poly-house resulted in best overall performance compared to the open field environment. It is recommended that the assessment of long-term sustainability and economic viability of poly-house cultivation for green pepper production be conducted.

Stochastic Frontier Analysis of Hot Pepper Production among Small-Scale Farmers in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria

This study used the Stochastic Frontier model to analyze hot pepper production among small-scale farmers in Dutsin-ma Local Government Area, Katsina State. Purposive and proportionate random sampling techniques were used to select 121 hot pepper farmers from whom the data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, and stochastic frontier production function model. The result of the study shows that hot pepper production activity is dominated by male (99.2%) and married (95.0%) farmers whom are middle aged (Mean = 39 year) and most of them (about 53%) have household size of 1-10 persons, and an average farming experience of 13 years with a farm size average of 1.5 hectares. Majority of the hot pepper producers are engaged in its production for income generation while only few among them have access to credits. The result of the gross margin analysis (GM) shows that hot pepper farmers incurred total variable cost (TVC) of NGN138,703.6, and a return of NGN164,513.4 that yielded the profit of NGN25,809.8 per hectare of production and a return on investment of 1.28. The average technical efficiency (TE) of the farmers was found to be 80% among hot pepper farmers in the study area. Moreover the result of the frontier analysis shows that seed, labor and fertilizer are significant inputs determining hot pepper output. In addition to that inefficiency components of the frontier analysis revealed education, access to extension service, cooperative membership, Years of farming experience, farm size, and household size to be the significant determinants of efficiency of hot pepper production in the study area. The result also revealed that farmers in the study area are faced with major challenges of high costs of production inputs and problems of pests and diseases.