Fertilizer trial on chillies, Capsicum frutescens L.

The present experiment has been designed to evaluate the optimum nitrogen level and its method of application to chillies crop at Malir Farm, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam during 1997-9G. The experiment was laid out under Randomized Complete Block Design, replicated three times with plot size of 3m x 4 m (12 m sq. meter). The variety experimented as local Long green The nitrogen levels and their applications methods were; T1=50 kg in per hectare in three equal doses. T2=50 kg N per hectare in six equal doses, T3=109 kg N per hectare in three equal doses and T4=100 kg N per hectare in six equal doses. The study revealed that there were non-significant differences in the values of plant height, number of branches per plant, fruit length, number of fruits per plant and single fruit weight due to application of nitrogen in varying levels or due to different application methods. However, differences were significant for fruit yield per bed (P0.05) only. Comparatively greater plant height (5B.80 cm) was recorded under 50 kg nitrogen level when applied in three doses, while more number of branches (41.31) observed under 100 kg nitrogen applied in three splits. The fruit length of slightly higher (6.67 cm) under 100 kg N when applied in doses while number of fruits (37.14) were greater under 50 kg N when applied in three doses. However, single fruit weight (4.19 g or 4.17 g) was higher under 100 kg N levels when applied in six and three split doses respectively. Differences, however, were statistically non- significant. The trend was somewhat different in case of yield per bed as compared to other growth and yield components, and maximum fruit yield of 14.74 kg per bed was achieved under 50 kg N when applied in three levels, followed by 14.03 kg fruit yield obtained under 100 kg N level when applied in three doses. It was concluded from the study that the most economical and beneficial nitrogen level was 50 kg per hectare, while in case of application methods, it would be far beneficial to complete nitrogen application in three doses as compared to six doses.