EFFECT OF PLANTING PATTERN AND FERTILIZER RATES ON ONION (ALLIUM CERA L.) AND PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUML.) MIXED CROP
EFFECT OF PLANTING PATTERN AND FERTILIZER RATES ON ONION (ALLIUM CERA L.) AND PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUML.) MIXED CROP
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Date
2000-09
Authors
SAMAILA, ALIYU A.
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Abstract
Field experiments were conducted during 1996/97 and 1997/98 dry seasons at the
Irrigation Research farm of the Institute for Agricultural, Samaru (11 1 l'N, 7° 381 E 686m)
to study the effect of different rates of fertilizer (NPK) and planting pattern on the
performance of onion/pepper mixtures. The treatments consisted of four rates of NPK -
20:10:10 compound fertilizer: (0, 250, 500 and 750 kg/ha) and six planting patterns (Sole
pepper, Sole onion, 1:1 alternate onion and pepper stands, 1:2 alternate pepper and onion
stands, 1:1 alternate rows onion/pepper and 1:2 alternate rows onion/pepper). These were
arranged in factorial combinations and replicated three limes in a randomized complete block
design. Planting pattern significantly influenced total yield of onion on one hand, with 1:2
alternate row giving the highest yield: also the number of leaves/plant, fresh weight of fruits
and total yield of Pepper. Fertilizer application of up to 500kg/ha significantly increased
plant height, leaf number, bulb diameter marketable bulb yield and total yield of onion as
well as fruit length leaf number, plant height and total fruit yield of pepper. The higher rate
of 750kg/ha NPK significantly depressed plant height, reduced fruit diameter, fresh weight
and total yields of both crops. The 1:2 alternate row planting pattern gave the highest land
equivalent ratio (LER) amongst the patterns considered. A significant positive correlation
was observed between yield of onion and bulb fresh weight, bulb diameter, number of
leaves/plant and plant height, and between the yield pepper and number of leaves, plant
height, fruit diameter and fresh weight of fruits; while a significantly negative correlation
was observed between days to flowering and yield of pepper
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU
BELLO UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
AGRONOMY
DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AHAMDU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA
SEPTEMBER, 2000
Keywords
PLANTING,, FERTILIZER,, RATES,, ALLIUM CERA,, PEPPER,, (CAPSICUM ANNUML.), MIXED CROP