Comparative effect of P source (cow dung and poultry manure) on the growth, development, and yield of chili pepper (capsicum frutenscens) in Kogi state, Nigeria

Field trial conducted at the Kogi State University Students Research and Demonstration Farm evaluated the influence of P obtained from two sources: cow dung and poultry manure, on the growth, development and yield of chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens) in Anyigba, Kogi state. The experiment a 2*3 Factorial Design consisted of two sources of P (cow dung and poultry manure) supplying P, at three levels: 0 kg P/ha, 45 kg P/ha and 90 kg P/ha, with treatment replicated three times. Growth parameters (plant height, leaf area, stem girth, number of branches) responded significantly to increasing P application over the control. Significant interactions were observed between poultry manure and cow dung growth characters in chili pepper. For yield, the treatment shows significant (P≤0.05) influence of source of P on fruit weight harvested per plant as well as fruit harvested/ha, with poultry manure giving the best yield / plant as well as yield / ha. Regarding rate of P application, harvested yield was observed to increase with increasing levels of P both in poultry manure as well as in cow dung. There was also interaction between poultry manure and cow dung on chili pepper yield with the highest yield obtained in a mixture of 90kg P/ha equivalent poultry manure + 90kg P/ha equivalent cow dung. Application of higher doses of P is recommended for the cultivation of chili pepper in the study area, considering the responses obtained with increasing levels of P in the study.