Seasonal and Fertiliser Effect on the Yield of Bell Pepper (capsicum Annuum L.) in Ibadan, South Western Nigeria

Emerging supply crisis in the food chain of crops such as Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) from traditionally major producing areas of Southern and Northern guinea savannah of Nigeria to other parts of the country makes it expedient to cultivate the crop under different weather conditions and fertiliser requirements. Field trials were conducted in Ibadan, South western Nigeria (derived savannah agroecological zone) on a loamy sand Alfisol during the wet and dry seasons of 2011 and 2012 respectively to determine productivity of Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in the two seasons. Effects of varying rates of Phosphorus (P) fertilizer as Single Super Phosphate (SSP) and Potassium (K) fertilizer as Murate of Potash (MOP) were also investigated. Phosphorus and K fertilizers were applied at four rates of 0, 30, 45 and 60 kg P/ha and 0, 15, 30 and 45 kg K/ha respectively in single dose by banding in a split plot arrangement in a Randomised Complete Block Design, replicated three times. Bell-pepper fruit yield (harvested green) which was the response parameter was analysed using analysis of variance (α0.05) while Duncan Multiple range test was used to separate means.There were significant differences between the yields of Bell pepper in the two seasons and varying rates of P and K. Yields in the dry season of 2012 were significantly higher than wet season of 2011 (about 2.5 times higher) with an average of 3.64 and 8.96 t/ha in the wet season of 2011 and dry season of 2012 respectively. There were significant increases in yield with rates of applied P and K. Consistent and maximum yield were obtained at 45 kg P/ha (12.21t/ha) and 30 kg K/ha (10.33 t/ha) in the two seasons. Bell pepper could be profitably grown in Ibadan from December to March at 45 kg P and 30 kg K/ha.