Influence of different training levels on growth and production efficiency of capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum) under poly house condition in New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal

An experiment was conducted at the farmer’s field of Baninathpur, Murshidabad adjacent to DhaanyagangaKVK to study the effect of different training levels on growth, yield attributes, yield and economics of capsicum under poly house condition during consecutive two years viz. September, 2018 to March, 2019 and September, 2019 to March, 2020. The four training levels P1 (two shoots plant -1), P2 (three shoots plant -1), P3 (four shoots plant -1) and P4 (five shoots plant -1) were evaluated in present experiment. Considering the pooled data of two years at different training levels,the maximum plant height, leaf numbers at different growth stages, leaf area, number of flowers and fruits per plant were recorded in plants trained with five shoots. It was closely followed by the treatment having four shoots per plant. The yield was maximum in treatment receiving training methods to maintain four shoots per plant. It was because of the higher fruit size. The outcome reflected that the plant with four shoots yielded maximum production with best benefit cost ratio. Keyword:Capsicum, economics,poly house production and training level The present day agriculture has shifted from production oriented to market driven. The habituate cereal growers are adding vegetables to their crop rotation in response to increased consumer demands. Thus a changing trend in production scenario has been observed with cultivation of capsicum, broccoli, off season leafy vegetables as well as cut flowers. In this aspect cultivation of capsicum (Capsicum annum var. grossum L.) or sweet pepper or bell pepper holds a great promise to our farmers.India contributes average annual production of 327 thousand tonnes from an area of 4600 thousand hectare with a productivity of 7108.7kg ha-1 (Senthilkumar, 2019). With advent of Precision Agriculture, polyhouse is the smartest technology in Indian agriculture, where controlled or partially controlled favourable environment is extended for plant growth and ultimately reflecting in yield enhancement compared to open field conditions (Navale et al., 2003). Fruit weight and fruit size is intermingled as well as interdependent which in turn determines market prices for coloured sweet pepper as per consumer preference. It is crucial to determine the optimal production system that may enhance quality and acceptability of fruit by consumers or end users. To make pepper cultivation successful and accepted by consumer’s different systems of production must be tested (Singh et al., 2010). Therefore, it is imperative to note that, very limited information is available for Email: chandaflori@yahoo.co.in Journal of Crop and Weed, 16(3): 148-152 (2020) ISSNO : 2349 9400 ; P : 0974 6315 h t tp : / / cwssbckv.o rg www.cropandweed. com growing sweet pepper through suitable technology of training under protected cultivation or poly house in New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal. In commercial polyhouse,capsicum fruit development is précised by restricting the branching pattern of main stems in 2, 3, 4 or 5 numbers. The reasons toprunecapsicum under polyhouse conditions are for training plant growth to maintain the source to sink relationship, to manage the number of marketable size fruits and mainly facilitate penetration of light on plant canopy for interception of light more efficiently. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present experiment was carried out in the farmers’ field during consecutive two years viz. September, 2018 to March, 2019 and September, 2019 to March, 2020 to standardize the training methods and restricting the number of main branches in plant considering production efficiency of Capsicum under poly house condition. Mr. Abdul Mohit, farmer of village Baninathpur, Block: Beldanga I, Dist. Murshidabad participated in the programme not only due to motivation by the Scientists from Dhaanyaganga KrishiVigyan Kendra rather for his own interest. All sorts of technical supports from the KVK were also extended. The seedlings of hybrid capsicum (cv. Clause) were raised at the green house. The seeds were sown in seed trays (seed per cell) of 120 cells per seed tray. The seed trays were filled with carbonated rice husk.