Green fruit yield, quality and nutrient uptake by chillies (Capsicum annuum L.) as influenced by spacings, castor cake and nitrogen levels

A field experiment was conducted at Main Vegetable Research Station, Anand on loamy sand soil to study the effect of spacings, castor cake and nitrogen levels on green chillies (Capsicum annuum L.) in kharif-rabi seasons during 2002-03 and 2003-04. The results revealed that narrow spacing of 60 x 60 cm significantly decreased the number of green fruits/plant, green fruit yield/plant and green fruit weight as compared to wider spacing of 90 x 60 cm. However, green fruit yield as well as the potassium uptake by chilli crop was significantly higher in narrow spacing of 60 x 60 cm due to higher plant population under this treatment. Application of castor cake @ 1 t/ha significantly increased the number of green chilli fruits/plant, green fruit yield/plant and as a result increased the green fruit yield as compared to no castor cake application. Application of castor cake cot 1 t/ha significantly increased nitrogen and potassium content and the uptake of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by chilli crop and also enhanced available nitrogen status of the soil over no castor cake treatment. Application of nitrogen @ 150 kg N/ha significantly increased the yield attributes and green fruit yield as compared to lower levels of 100 kg N/ha, but was at par with higher levels of nitrogen. The treatment of 250 kg N/ha recorded the highest values of content and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as available nitrogen status after crop harvest and was significantly superior to lower levels of nitrogen except 200 kg N/ha. However, the Capsicum content was reduced as the nitrogen level increased.