Effect of Soil Improvement Practices and NAA Application on Yield and Phytophthora Diseases of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
Capsicum is a significant genus for its nutritional, economic, and cultural values. Besides that, Phytophthora capsici causes a significant decline in yield. So, a study was carried out to determine the response of bell pepper crop yield and incidence of Phytophthora disease to two planting methods, three mulch levels, and two NAA levels. Results indicated that planting methods, mulch materials, and NAA levels significantly influenced bell pepper disease(s) and yield. Plants grown on raised beds had minimum severity of disease and higher yield. Black polythene mulch responded best for less disease severity of leaf blight and incidence of collar rot, whereas, silver/black mulch showed significantly least incidence of fruit rot and higher yield. It also recorded lower disease infection and greater yield as compared to no NAA application. As for the consortium, the minimum severity of leaf blight (1.13 %), yield per plot (54.53 kg) and yield per hectare (384.69 q) were noticed under raised bed planting coupled with silver/black mulch and NAA application @ 15 ppm at 30 and 45 days after transplanting.