Effect of Plant Density and Nutrient Management on Growth of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Abstract

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), with a chromosome number of 2n = 24, belongs to the genus Capsicum within the family Solanaceae. It is widely used worldwide as a spice, garnish, and natural colourant, and represents one of the high-value commercial crops in the country. During the 2024-2025 rabi season, a field experiment was carried out at the AICRP on Vegetable Crops research farm, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar. The study used a split-plot design with two replications, with three plant spacings—S1 (70 × 40 cm), S2 (50 × 50 cm), and S3 (50 × 30 cm)—and five fertilizer levels—F1 (150:75:75), F2 (100:25:50), F3 (120:80:80), F4 (90:45:45), and F5 (100:100:100 NPK kg ha⁻¹). The findings showed that spacing had a significant impact on both growth and yield, with S2 (50 × 50 cm) yielding greater dry fruit output per plot (1.37 kg), better plant height (86.7 cm), primary branches (6.6), and earlier blooming (38.5 DAT). Plant height (94.3 cm), plant spread N-S direction (3.9 cm), branching (8.5), leaf area (24.1cm2 ), early 50% flowering (54.3 DAT), and yield traits like fruit length (7.2 cm), fruit girth (4.5 cm), fruits per plant (87.8), fresh fruit weight (5.2 g), seeds per fruit (49.9), and dry fruit yield (1.4 kg per plot) were all markedly enhanced by F1 (150:75:75 NPK kg ha⁻¹) among fertilizer treatments. The combination of S2 spacing and F1 fertilizer dose produced the greatest results, with maximum plant height (102.7 cm), primary branching (9.7), earliest initial and 50% flowering at 31.6 DAT and 52.1 DAT, respectively, fruits per plant (96.6), seed number (55.1), and the largest dry fruit production (1.5 kg per plot).