CAPSICUM(Capsicum annuum L.)

INTRODUCTIONBelongs to family – SolanaceaeOriginate from South and Central AmericaPopular countries- China, Turkey, Nigeria,

Mexico, Spain, U.S.A.Fruits can widely vary in color, shape, and

size both between and within speciesTherefore classification is difficult

Mainly consists of 5 domesticated species and 26 wild species

5 domesticated species ; C. annuumC. baccatumC. chineseC. frutescensC. pubescens

C. baccatum

C. chinese

C. frutescens

C. pubescens

Capsicum annuum

The species includes a wide variety of shapes and sizes of peppers ranging from bell pepper to chili pepper

Some varieties;bell pepperCascabelAnaheimAlma paprikaBird’s eyeItalian sweet

pepper

CherryFresnoHungarian waxPablanoPiquinPepperoncicni

Plant Characteristics- HYW & C.A-8

Herbaceous perennialSpecies: annuum longum group Leaves: ovate, smooth, medium green in

color, alternate arrangement White colour self pollinated flower

Recommended varieties in Srilanka

Hungarian Yellow Wax (HYW)C.A. - 8

Hungarian Yellow Wax (HYW)• Yellowish green in colour• Smooth and shiny surface• Conical shape fruits• Thin walled & thick flesh• Fruit length : 15-20cm• Pungency varies from warm to moderately

hot• Recommended for up country• Not suitable for low and intermediate zones

due to high susceptibility to bacterial wilt

C.A. - 8

• Commonly referred as “banana pepper”• Light green in colour• Red or orange after ripening• Uneven surface with shiny appearance• Curved tip• Fruit length : 15-20cm• Mild, tangy taste• Recommended for both up & low country

Environmental RequirementsClimatic Requirements

can cultivate throughout the year upto an elevation of 1500m

supplementary irrigation is required during the yala season.

Soil well-drained, loamy soils optimum pH range - 5.5 - 6.8water logging conditions leads to retarded growth

Nursery Management• Select an area; without shade and well

drained soil • Prepare nursery beds, 300x90x15cm in

size• Apply compost 3-4kg into 1m² of the bed

and mix well• Solarization should be done by burning

paddy husk and bran on the bed

• Then cover up the bed with a transparent polythene sheet for 2 weeks

• Fungicides (Captan/Thiram) can also be added

• Seeds saw in rows in 1cm depth, leaving 10-15cm space between each for easy management practices

• Cover the seeds slightly with soil• Apply mulch material to cover up the bed• Mulches should remove after 5-6 days

• Seeds take 8-10 days to propagate• Shade should be provided to protect

immature plants from heavy rainfall and sunlight

• Plants should harden before establishing in the field by increasing the irrigation interval about 10 days

• Keep the plants about 1 months in the nursery

Field Establishment

Land preparation Plough up to 10-15cm& harrow the land Make beds with 1m wide and convenient

length

Planting seasonAny seasonYala : April - MayMaha : November - December

Spacing H.Y.W - 15cm X 30cm C.A 8 - 40cm X 40cm

Transplanting After 21 days of germination

Crop Management

Irrigation Early stage - 4-5 days interval Middle stage - once a week

Irrigation requirement depends on the rain fall intensity

Irrigation before and after fertilizer application is essential

Water stress leads to the falling off of flowers and pods, therefore moisture conservation of soil is essential

Fertilizer Application

TIME UREAKg/ha

MOPKg/ha

TSPKg/ha

Basal Dressing 100 215 65

After 4 weeks 100 - 65

After 8 weeks 100 - 65

WeedingManual weeding after 2,4 & 8 weeks of

transplantingEarthning up while weeding ensure the

proper establishment in the fieldChemical weeding;

After 2 days of transplanting, apply “Alachlor” 45%, 1.4-2.4kg/ha

Pest & Disease Management

Pests: ThripMitesAphidsWhite flyPod borer

Diseases:

•Collar rot• Seedling rot•Anthracnose•Bacterial wilt•Leaf spot•Narrow leaf disorder•Leaf curl

HarvestHarvest before maturity when it’s still yellow

green in colourCan obtain yield after 75 days of planting

Hungarian Yellow Wax : 3-4 times harvesting ; 10-15 mt/ha

C.A 8 :In wet zone; 8-10 times of harvesting

6-8 mt/haIn dry zone; 8-12 times of harvesting

10-15 mt/ha

HarvestingOn a sunny dayAvoid harvesting on rainy days or fruits

with water on it’s surface

Post Harvest Technology•Transport soon after harvesting, packed in

plastic boxes or porous covering•Aeration should be provided•Can store In refrigerators

UsesSaladsBaked dishesStuffed dishesStewsSalsaDecorating agent in pizzaPicklesFor stuffingFlavouring agent

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