Effects of Different Rates of Cattle Manure on Growth, Yield and Quality of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in a Sub-tropical Environment of Eswatini (Swaziland)
Tandzisile Z. Mabuza
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, P.O. Luyengo M205, Luyengo, Eswaini, Eswatini.
Michael T. Masarirambi *
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, P.O. Luyengo M205, Luyengo, Eswaini, Eswatini.
Kwanele A. Nxumalo
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, P.O. Luyengo M205, Luyengo, Eswaini, Eswatini.
Paul K. Wahome
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, P.O. Luyengo M205, Luyengo, Eswaini, Eswatini.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Green pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important vegetable in the Kingdom of Eswatini. However, there is rare information on pepper production using cattle manure. The experiment was conducted at the University of Swaziland, Luyengo Campus, in the Horticulture Department Lath-house to determine the effects of different rates of cattle manure on the growth and yield of green pepper in order to come up with a suitable application rate for green pepper. Cattle manure was applied at different rates of 20, 40, 60 and 80 tons/ha in a Randomized Complete Block Design, while 2:3:2 which was used as a control was applied at 150 kg/ha. For every increase in the application level/rate of the cattle manure, there was a considerable increase in the growth parameters that were measured. Results obtained from this experiment indicate that applying cattle manure at 80 tons/ha gave relatively higher yields. This cattle manure rate can be used by farmers in green pepper production.
Keywords: Cattle manure, application rate, Capsicum annum L, sub-tropical environment.