Integrated nutrient management in capsicum under low cost polyhouse condition

The field experiment was conducted during 2010–2011 at the Experimental Farm of School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Medziphema Campus, Nagaland University, Nagaland to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of capsicum cv. California Wonder under low cost polyhouse condition. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of T1 -Control, T2-100% NPK (100:60:60 kg ha−1), T3 -FYM @ 20 t ha −1, T4 -Pig manure @ 15 t ha−1, T5 -Vermicompost @ 10 t ha−1, T6 -50% NPK + 50% FYM, T7 50% NPK + 50% Pig manure, T8 -50% NPK + 50% Vermicompost, T9 -50% NPK + 50% FYM + Biofertilizers, T10 -50% NPK + 50% Pig manure + Biofertilizers, T11 -50% NPK + 50% Vermicompost + Biofertilizers. Results revealed that application of different levels of fertilizers, organic manures and biofertilizers either alone or in combination significantly increased the growth, yield and quality of capsicum as compared to control. The maximum plant height (54.46 cm), number of leaves plant−1 (38.89), leaf area (54.60 cm2), number of fruit plant1 (10.48), average fruit weight (85.06 g), fruit length (8.56 cm), fruit diameter (5.63 cm), fruit yield (29.70 t ha−1), TSS (9.55 oBrix) and vitamin C (126.31 mg 100 −1g) were recorded with the conjoint application of 50% NPK + 50% FYM + Biofertilizers. There is a significant build up of organic carbon in the soil after harvest of the crop with 50% NPK + 50% FYM + Biofertilizers. The same treatment also produced the highest net return of Rs. 7, 93,858.00 along with cost benefit ratio 1:8.16. These results suggested that the optimum production of capsicum can be obtained with integrated application of 50% NPK + 50% FYM + Biofertilizers. These results also saved about 50% of chemical fertilizers without any compromise on yield and quality parameters of capsicum.