EFFECT OF TRANSPLANTING DATES ON GROWTH AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF PEPPER (Capsicum Spp) IN BADEGGI, NIGERIA

Abstract

Field experiment were conducted to determine the effects of transplanting date on growth and yield of pepper (Capsicum Spp) varieties at the irrigated Research farm of the National Cereal Research InstituteBadeggi, Niger State, Nigeria in 2018 and 2019 rainy seasons were assessed. The experiment was a 5 x 4 factorial laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replication and consisted of five pepper varieties (Tabasco, Bell pepper, Rocoto, Hottest pepper  and South Africa pepper) and four transplanting dates (3rd June, 3rd July, 3rd August, and 3rd September). Result indicated significant differences (P<0.05) among the pepper varieties and transplanting dates. Rocoto variety was the tallest variety in both years while Bell pepper was the shortest. Bell pepper had the largest leaf area (49.88, 41.90 and 41.19cm² in 2018 and 46.78, 46.34 and 40.99cm² in 2019 at 6, 9, 12 weeks after transplanting WAT respectively). Fresh and dry fruit yields from Rocoto variety superseded other variety by 21-82% and 22-85% in 2018 and 27-83% and 35-87% in 2019. Pepper transplanted in July and significantly (P<0.05) higher number of leaves per plant, larger leaf area, number of branches per plant and taller plants than other transplanting dates. Also, transplanting dates had significant effects (P<0.05) on pepper phonological and yield components. 3rd September transplanting attained 50% of flowering, fruiting and ripening earlier than other dates in both years. July transplanting date had the highest fresh (13.40 and 13.87t/ha-1) and dry (9.88 and 9.15 tha-1) fruit yields in both years. Fresh and dry fruit yields from plants transplanted in 3^rd July susperseded other dates in both years. Findings from this experiment show that transplanting Rocoto variety in July would guarantee high productivity of pepper in Badeggi, Southern Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria.