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Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1):63-66
Published March, 2012 Hamma, et al., 2012
EFFECT OF PLANTING DATE AND SPACING ON THE GROWTH
AND YIELD OF SWEET PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.) IN SAMARU
AREA OF ZARIA IN NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
Hamma, I. L., Ibrahim, U. and Haruna, M.
Samaru College of Agriculture, D.A.C ABU Zaria, Nigeria. Email: hammaidi@yahoo.com
+2348135571447, 08053663718
The experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Institute for
Agricultural Research; Ahmadu Bello University Zaria located on latitude11 ° 11′N longitude7 ° 38′E and 686m above the sea
level in the Northern guinea savannah ecological zone of Nigeria. The trial is a two factors experiment (planting dates and
spacing) which consisted of four planting dates (planting date 1 of 20 th August, planting date 2 of 3 rd September, planting date
3 of 17 th September and Planting date 4 of 1 st October, 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons respectively) and spacing of 15, 30,
45 and 60 cm replicated three times and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). It was observed from the
results that significant higher increases in most of the growth and yield parameters per plant were obtained from planting
dates 1 of 20 th August 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons and spacing at 60cm, while planting date 4 of 1 st October 2010 and
2011 cropping seasons and spacing at 15cm, significantly obtained lower growth and yield increases in characters observed
during the period under review. Therefore, farmers are advised to plant crops as early as possible at a spacing of at least
60cm to provide enough time and space for growth and development of crops in order to increase yields.
Keywords: Planting date, Spacing, Pepper, Growth, Yield
INTRODUCTION
Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) belongs to the family Solanaceae under the genus Capsicm (Russo, 1996).
The crop is a native of Tropical South America especially Brazil which is thought to be the original home of
peppers (Islam et al., 2010). The genus Capsicum contains about 20 species but the popularly cultivated species
are sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) and hot pepper (Capsicum frutescens) both serving as a food and cash crops
in Nigeria and other countries. Much of the foreign exchange can be earned from exportation of this crop to other
countries of the world (Verroens et al,. 2006). The sweet pepper is either used green or red and may be eaten as
cooked or raw, as well as in salad (Andrews, 1984). The sweet pepper is relatively non–pungent with thick flesh
and is the worlds’ second most important vegetable after tomato (Anonymous, 1989). It is also used for pickling
in brine, baking and stuffing. The leaves are also consumed as salad, soup, or eaten with rice. It was discovered to
be a good source of medicinal preparation against vomiting and paralysis (Islam et al., 2010). Pepper has little
energy value but higher nutritive value of protein, vitamins A, C and calcium. Crop production depends on several
factors, of which sowing date is one of the most important (Islam et al., 2010). Optimum sowing time brings
about proper growth and development of plants resulting in maximum yield of the crop and economic use of land
(Islam et al., 2010).In an experiment to investigate growth and yield as influenced by three levels of spacing viz.
50×50cm, 50×40 cm, 50×30 cm. There were significant variations in almost all the growth and yield components.
Number of branches per plant, number leaves per plant, stem girth, number fruits per plant, days to first harvest,
fruit length, individual fruit weight, yield per plant were found to be significantly increased with the increasing of
plant spacing but plant height at different stages, number of fruits per plot, days to 50% flowering, fruit breadth,
yield per plot and yield per hectare were found to be significantly increased with the decreasing plant spacing.
Considering the yield fruits per hectare, cost production and net return, 50×30cm appeared to be recommendable
for the cultivation of sweet pepper (Islam et al., 2010).
The present study was carried out to clarify the optimum planting date for sweet pepper and the recommended
spacing in Zaria.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research;
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria located on latitude11 ° 11′N longitude7 ° 38′E and 686m above the sea level in the
Northern guinea savannah ecological zone of Nigeria. The trial is a two factors experiment (planting dates and
spacing) which consisted of four planting dates (planting date 1 of 20 th August, planting date 2 of 3 rd September,
planting date 3 of 17 th September and Planting date 4 of 1 st October, 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons
respectively) and spacing of 50 x 15, 50 x30, 50 x45 and 50 x 60 cm replicated three times and laid out in a
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Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1):63-66
Published March, 2012 Hamma, et al., 2012
randomized complete block design (RCBD). The Seedlings of sweet pepper local cultivar called ‘Tattase’ were
kept in the nursery for one month before transplanting for each of the treatments. The seedlings were transplanted
in plots that measured 5 x 3m at the rate indicated in the experiment. Each plot contained 30 seedlings, the total
number of seedlings were 30 x 12 plots (i.e. total of 360 seedlings). The total plot size of the experimental area
was 180 m 2 . After transplanting seedlings from the nursery to the field, the following operations were carried out
to promote their early establishment, quick growth and development. The crop was irrigated as required
depending on the moisture status of the soil and requirement of plants. Plots with transplanted seedlings were
regularly observed to identify damaged or dead seedlings for replacement. Weeding was done as required and also
plant protection measures were carried out against insects and diseases through appropriate application of
pesticides.
Data collection
Data was collected from five randomly selected plants in each plot on growth and yield characters such as plant
height (cm), number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, stem girth (mm), fruit length (cm), fruit
breadth (cm), days to 50% flowering, number of fruits per plant, yield per plot (kg) and yield per ha (kg). Data
was statistically analysed using GENSTAT. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to find out the
significance of variation among the treatments while the significance difference between mean treatments were
separated using the Duncan’s’ Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability.
RESULTS
All growth characters showed significant variations due to planting dates and spacing as shown in (Table 1).
Treatment 1, planting date of 20 th August 2010 and 2011, spacing at 60cm and interactions between planting dates
and spacing significantly produced higher mean values on plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, number
of branches per plant and stem girth (mm) per plant, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant and fruit yield
per hectare in all the stages of assessment. However, planting date of 1 st October 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons,
spacing at 15cm and interactions between planting dates and spacing significantly produced lower mean values on
all growth characters at all stages of measurement. The yield characters such as fruits per plant and fruit yield per
hectare were significantly different due to planting date and spacing. Planting date 1 of 20 th August 2010 and
2011 cropping seasons, spacing at 60cm and interactions between planting dates and spacing significantly
produced higher mean values among the treatments, while planting date 4 of 1 st October 2010 and 2011 cropping
seasons; spacing at 15cm and interactions between planting dates and spacing significantly produced lower mean
values on yield parameters recorded. Fruit lengths per plant and fruit girth per plant were not significantly
different. However, there were no significant interactions on these characters.
DISCUSSION
The observations of significant variations among the treatments indicated that cultivation of any crop depends on
several factors for growth and development. Planting dates and spacing has been observed as some of the factors
that affect growth and development of a crop. Islam et al. (2010) reported that optimum sowing dates and spacing
of a crop ensures proper growth, development and maximises the yield of the crop. Also optimum planting dates
and spacing ensures the economy of land use of a crop. As observed from the results of this trial, planting dates 1
and 60cm spacing performed better in terms of growth and yield characters than the rest of the treatments by
giving higher values. Progression further into drier period and spacing significantly decreased the values of
parameters measured on the crop. From planting dates of 20 th August 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons; spacing at
60cm down to planting dates 4 of 1 st October 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons; spacing at 15cm, treatment means
decreased accordingly. This means that the earlier and proper you space a crop the better the performances of the
crop with respect to growth and yield characters. Planting dates 4 of 1 st October 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons;
as well as spacing at 15cm could not produce higher mean values because the duration and space of the crop was
not quite enough to guarantee plants under this treatment complete the vegetative and reproductive phases fully.
Also, competition for resources by plants under this treatment was higher resulting into haste by plants under this
treatment to complete their growth and developmental stages.
CONCLUSION
It was observed from the results that significant higher increases in most of the growth and yield parameters per
plant were obtained from planting dates 1 of 20 th August 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons and spacing at 60cm,
while planting date 4 of 1 st October 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons and spacing at 15cm, significantly obtained
lower growth and yield in characters observed during the period under review. Therefore, farmers are advised to
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Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1):63-66
Published March, 2012 Hamma, et al., 2012
plant crops as early as possible at a spacing of at least 60cm to provide enough time and space for growth and
development of crops in order to increase yields.
REFERENCES
Andrews, J. 1984. Pepper The Domesticated Capsicum. University of Texas Press, Austin. P321.
Anonymous, 1989. Tomato and Pepper Production in the Tropics. Asian Vegetable Research and Development
Centre, Taiwan. P585.
Bevacqua, R. F. Vanleeuween, D. M. 2003. Planting date effects on stand establishment and yield of chilli pepper.
American Society for Horticultural Science. 38: 357 – 365.
Islam, M. Saha, S. Akand, H. Rahim, A. 2010. Efffect of sowing date on the growth and yield of sweet pepper
(Capsicum annuum L.) Agronomski Glasnik 1/2010.
Russo, V. M. 1996. Planting date, fertilizer rate and harvest time affect yield of Jalapeno and Banana peppers.
American Society for Horticultural Science, 31(7): 107 – 1118.
Verroens, P. Verlinden, B. E. Sauviller, C. Lammertyn, J. De Ketelaere, B. Nicolai, B. M. 2006. Time series
analysis of Capsicum annuum fruit production cultivated in greenhouse. ISHS Acta Horticulture 718: III
International Symposium on Models for plant growth, Environmental control and farm management in
protected cultivation.
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Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1):63-66
Published March, 2012 Hamma, et al., 2012
Table 1: Growth and yield of pepper as influenced by planting dates and spacing at Samaru, Zaria in 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons
Treatments Plant height
(cm)
Planting dates
4
3
2
1
Spacing (cm)
15
30
45
60
2010 2011
14.60d 15.33d
17.72c 18.45c
20.46b 21.71b
24.04a 25.64a
13.67d 13.45d
15.68c 15.34c
18.11b 20.57b
23.12a 24.36a
Number of leaves
per plant
2010 2011
51.62d 57.48d
59.48c 60.82c
68.31b 69.71b
87.42a 84.91a
48.24d 54.86d
54.46c 58.78c
64.24b 65.15b
83.27a 84.78a
Number of
branches per
plant
2010 2011
8.22d 9.24d
9.32c 10.60c
10.49b 11.63b
15.88a 16.72a
7.42d 11.26d
8.11cd 11.44c
11.24b 13.22b
13.27a 15.32a
Stem
(mm)
girth
5.45c 5.29b
6.35bc 6.43bc
8.21a 8.31a
10.25a 10.46a
4.24d 8.42d
5.14cd 10.11c
7.08b 11.21b
9.47a 13.15a
Number of fruits
per plant
2010 2011
6.05c 7.92bc
8.41b 9.22b
11.25b 11.43b
14.28a 15.41a
5.24c 5.32c
6.43bc 6.52bc
9.12b 9.40b
11.23a 12.08a
Fruit length
per plant
(cm)
3.13a 3.15a
3.22a 3.24a
3.32a 3.35a
3.44a 3.48a
3.10a 3.12a
3.14a 3.16a
3.24a 3.27a
3.38a 3.42a
Fruit
per
(cm)
girth
plant
1.01a 1.09a
1.15a 1.11a
1.31a 1.14a
1.42a 1.44a
1.11a 1.13a
1.15a 1.16a
1.24a 1.25a
1.45a 1.50a
Fruit yield per
plant (kg)
2010 2011
2.24b 2.25b
2.89b 2.92b
.98ab2.99ab
3.11a 3.13a
2.18b 2.20b
2.32ab 2.33ab
3.14a 3.16a
3.35a 3.40a
Fruit yield per
hectare (kg)
2010 2011
1,734.15d 1821.21d
1,947.26c 1954.32c
2,894.41b 2924.11b
3,872.56a 3946.28a
1532.27c 1723.24d
178934bc 1843.27bc
276843b 2864.27b
364328a 3743.26a
Interactions
P x S * * * * * NS NS * *
Means with the same letter (s) within a column are not significantly different at P = 0.05 using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT).
1 = 20 th August, 2010 and 2011 2 = 3 rd September, 2010 and 2011 3 = 17 th September, 2010 and 2011 4 = 1 st October, 2010 and 2011
NS = Not significant at 5% level of significance
* = Significant
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