Abstract:
Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important Solanaceous family
vegetable in the world, but commercial cultivation are limited in Sri Lanka. An
experiment was conducted to access the effect of different shade levels on the growth
and yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) at Department ofAgronomy, Faculty
of Agriculture, Ariviyal Nagar, Kilinochchi during March to July in 2018. Two factor
factorial experiment was carried out in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with six
replicates. Four shade levels (25%, 50%, 75%and 85%shade levels) and three varieties;
Yellow (Polaris), Green (Ganga) and Red (Hercules) were used as treatments.
Weather, growth and yield parameters were recorded and data were analyzed in
ANOVA using SAS 9.1 package. The means were compared by using Duncan
Multiple Range test. All other management practices were performed based on the
farmer practices adopted in BadullaDistrict. Light intensitywas significantly differed
among shade levels and the lowest in the85%shade level and highest in the25%shade
and the temperature and relative humidity were not much varied among the shade
levels. There was a significance difference in vegetative growth traits (plant height,
number of leaves and branches per plant) and yield parameters (fruit length, fruit
diameter, fruit weight, number of fruits per plant and yield) of bell pepper among
shade levels and varieties. In the growth parameters, the plant height was highest in
85% shade level in yellow variety and other parameters of growth were highest in 25%
shade level in green variety. In the yield parameters, the number of fruit was highest in
25% shade level in red variety and other yield parameters such as fruit length, fruit
diameter and fruit weight were highest in 85% shade level in yellow variety. It can be
concluded that 85% shade level and yellow variety can be recommended as the best
combination for growing of bell pepper in Kilinochchi District during Yala season
based on the growth and yield performance of the plant.
