Evaluation of Hot Pepper Varieties (capsicum species) for Growth, Dry pod Yield and Quality at M/Lehke District, Tigray, Ethiopia

  Yemane Kahsay

Abstract A field experiment was conducted at Axum Agricultural Research Center, Rama irrigation site, to investigate the performance of different varieties of hot pepper for growth, dry pod yield and quality. The experiment was conducted from December2013 to June2014 under irrigated condition using five hot pepper varieties (Mareko fana, Melka Shote, Melka awaze, Melka zala and Melka eshet).The experiment was conducted on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The result of the study showed significant difference on days of 50%flowering, days to 50%maturity, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, number of fruit per plant, plant height, marketable yield, unmarketable yield and total yield(Qt/ha).As a result the earliest variety to attain days to 50%flowering was Mareko fana; the variety to attain shortest days to maturity were asMelka Shote and Melka zala, while the highest fruit number per plant was recorded at Melka Shote. On the other hand the widest fruit diameter was recorded at Melka eshet and Mareko fana varieties;where the thinnest fruit size of was attained at Melka Shote. The highest marketable yield(Qt/ha) of hot peppers was recorded Melka Shote, Melka awaze ,Melka fana, Melka zala and Melka eshet respectively, while the highest total yield and pest tolerance Melka Shote followed by Melka awaze. The highest yielding capacities were attributed to their early flowering and maturity, high marketable yield and total yield,dry weight content of the varieties as well as their reaction to disease and pests. Since this study was done two seasons at one location; it would be advisable to use Melka Shote and Melka awaze varieties to M/Lehke areas or on this given area to gain higher yield.

Keywords- Hot pepper, variety, fruit and yield

Unique Identification Number - IJEDR1703022
Page Number(s) - 144-152
Pubished in - Volume 5 | Issue 3 | July 2017
DOI (Digital Object Identifier) -   
Publisher - IJEDR (ISSN - 2321-9939)

  Yemane Kahsay,   "Evaluation of Hot Pepper Varieties (capsicum species) for Growth, Dry pod Yield and Quality at M/Lehke District, Tigray, Ethiopia", International Journal of Engineering Development and Research (IJEDR), ISSN:2321-9939, Volume.5, Issue 3, pp.144-152, July 2017, Available at :http://www.ijedr.org/papers/IJEDR1703022.pdf