Correlation Dynamics among Yield, Growth, and Yield Characters of Chilli Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Varieties as Affected by Plant Population Density and Seedling Age in Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The experiments were conducted to examined the correlation among growth and yield components of chilli pepper (Capsicum annum L.) as influenced by plant population density and seedlings age over three consecutive rainy seasons (2022, 2023, and 2024) in Zuru, Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. The objective was to investigate the correlation among growth traits, yield components, and fruit yield of chilli pepper under different planting densities and seedling ages. The treatments consist of three population density (100,000 pha-1 (50cm X 20cm), 50,000 pha-1 (50cm X 40cm) and 33,334 pha-1 (50cm X 60cm)), four seedling age (20days, 30days, 40days and 50days) and three varieties of chilli pepper (Demon F1, MIHP-1041 and Local Cultivar). Factorial combinations of plant population density and seedlings age were allocated to the main-plots while varieties were assigned to the sub-plots in a split plot design, replicated three times. The size of each sub-plot was 3 x 3 m (9m2) and the net plot measured 4m2. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were computed among twelve agronomic traits, including fresh fruit yield, plant height, leaves per plant, branches per plant, leaf area index, shoot dry weight, crop growth rate, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, and number of seeds per fruit. Results revealed significant positive correlations between fresh fruit yield and several growth and yield parameters across the three seasons. The strongest and most consistent correlations were observed between yield and number of fruits per plant (r = 0.814–0.800**), mean fruit weight (r = 0.935–0.932**), shoot dry weight (r = 0.751–0.761**), and branches per plant (r = 0.719–0.707**). Variations in correlation magnitudes across years were attributed to climatic fluctuations and density–age interactions. These findings indicate that mean fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, shoot biomass, and branching can serve as reliable selection indices for improving chilli yield under the Northern Guinea Savanna conditions.