Fertilizer management of capsicum (Capsicum annuum) as influenced by method of raising seedlings, depth of placement and doses P using 32P-labelled superphosphate

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2007 to compare the fertilizer management practices of pro-tray vis-a-vis seed bed grown seedlings of 'Indra' hybrid capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) using 32P-1abelled superphosphate applied at different depth and doses. The seedlings grown in pro-trays were more vigorous and showed higher nutrient content in both root and shoot portions of dry matter as compared to those grown on seed bed. The capsicum seedlings grown in pro-tray when transplanted in the field produced plants with significantly higher dry matter of leaf, stem, fruits, whole plant and uptake of total P and of fertilizer P compared to those grown on seed bed. Application of superphosphate to the crop at 10 cm depth was found to be superior in respect of fruit yield, dry matter production and all parameters of P use except for P content in stem, compared to those of placement of superphosphate at 5 cm depth. Increasing doses of P to the crop significantly increased fruit yield and dry matter production of fruit and of the whole plant. Uptake of P was the highest at 80% dose in respect of leaf and stem. Increasing doses of P caused significant increase of Pdff, fertilizer P uptake and P fertilizer utilization. The effect of the treatments was most pronounced and significant compared to rest of the treatments at 10 cm deep placement of 100% of P dose under pro-tray raised seedlings (24.77 tonnes/ha) which was the highest at 83.1% over 5 cm placement of 60% of P dose under seed bed-grown seedlings (13.53 tonnes/ha). In both seed bed- and pro-tray-grown seedlings the highest total fertilizer P utilization was obtained at 10 cm deep placement of superphosphate under 80% of P dose (5.79 and 6.57% respectively). Thus, raising seedlings in pro-trays and banding superphosphate and other fertilizers below the row at 10 cm maximized capsicum yield and fertilizer utilization.