Effect of Poultry Manure and N.P.K 15: 15: 15 Fertilizer on the Growth and Yield of Nsukka Yellow Pepper (Capsicum annum)

Abstract

A field experiment to evaluate the effect of poultry manure and N.P.K 15:15:15 fertilizer on the growth and yield of Nsukka yellow pepper (Capsicum annum) was conducted in the faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management Teaching and Research Farm Enugu State University of Science and Technology Enugu during the 2018 cropping season. The experiment was carried out using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four (4) treatments replicated five (5) times. The result of the experiments showed significant treatment effect (P = 0.05) on the following agronomic parameters measured; percentage (%) plant survival, leaf area index, plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of days to 50% flowering, number of fruits per plant and fruit yield (kg/ha). Poultry manure and N.P.K 15:15:15 fertilizer combination performed significantly (P = 0.05) better than poultry manure, N.P.K 15:15:15 fertilizer and no application of the treatments on the number of leaves per plant, number of fruits per plant and fruit yield (kg/ha). There was neither significant interaction effect (P = 0.05) of poultry manure + N.P.K 15:15:15 fertilizer nor significant main effect (P = 0.05) of poultry manure and N.P.K 15:15:15 fertilizer on leaf area index.