Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. var. Grossum)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted during the autumn-winter season of 2024–2025 to evaluate the effect of integrated use of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers, and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the growth, yield, and quality of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with nine treatments and three replications. The treatment combinations were as follows: T₁: Control, T₂: RDF + FYM @ 20 t/ha + PGPR, T₃: 75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha, T₄: 50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha, T₅: 75% RDF + PGPR, T₆: 50% RDF + PGPR, T₇: 75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha + PGPR, T₈: 50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha + PGPR. The results revealed that the treatment T₂ (RDF + FYM @ 20 t/ha + PGPR) recorded the best performance across various parameters, including: Plant height: 68.00 cm, Number of branches per plant: 4.56, Days to 50% flowering: 27.46, Days to first harvest: 58.10, Fruit length: 6.58 cm, Fruit breadth: 4.88 cm, Pericarp thickness: 5.24 mm, Number of fruits per plant: 22.56, Fruit weight: 52.64 g, Yield per plot: 22.14 kg, Maximum yield per hectare: 291.54 q/ha, Total Soluble Solids (TSS): 4.78 °Brix, Benefit-Cost Ratio (B:C): 1.90. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the integrated nutrient management (INM) approach involving RDF + FYM + PGPR significantly enhances the growth, yield, and quality of capsicum. Therefore, the use of INM practices is recommended for sustainable and profitable production of sweet pepper under similar agro-climatic conditions.