International Journal of Horticulture, 2017, Vol.7, No. 29, 262-274
271
Fruit Number, Fruit Weight (Dry and Wet)
The green pepper variety (Table 5) shows that fruit dry weight for both seasons were not significantly different.
Fruit number showed an overlap numerical value though similar but slightly differs and the fruit-wet weights were
significantly different. The control showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the number of fruits, fruit weight
(wet & dry) to Urea. organomineral fertilizer had a superior performance, significantly different to organic
fertilizer, however there was an overlap. This agrees with the findings of Agele (2001), Adekiya and Agbede
(2009) and NingJian Feng et al. (2010) who found that increase in organic N- source organic matter resulted in
better growth and yield of Tomato. The fruit weight per plant showed no significant difference among the planting
date (Table 5), the planting date had similar numerical value but was not significant for both season. This might
be due to genetic composition of the green pepper varieties Sagar Koner et al. (2015)
Fruit Number, Fruit Weight (Dry & Wet) and Harvested Weight
California wonder variety (Table 5) recorded a better performance in yield, a higher numerical value for fruit
number and weight and not significantly different from the values obtained from Tassasai Dan-Garko. A
significant variation was observed between the varieties showing California wonder to produce the highest fruit
number and harvested weight. (43.2 and 3221 kg/ha) for irrigation and (49.81 and 3229.85 kg/ha) for the rainfed.
organomineral fertilizer application recorded the highest fruit number and harvested weight (60 and 3535 kg)
closely followed by ORF (56.6 and 2976 kg) for irrigation and (68.58 & 2935 kg) for rainfed. The least numerical
value was recorded from the control in both seasons. This may be due to availability of N
2
sources from the
organic and organo- mineral fertilizers to the plant. Shuresh
et al. (2013), Agele (2001) cited in Saidu et al. (2012)
reported that increase in concentration of N resulted in better growth and yield of tomato.
Planting date had a significant influence (P < 0.05) on the number of fruit per plant (Table 5). The highest mean
fruit number (72.5) was recorded from 2-May planting date and the minimum fruit number was recorded from
2-April planting date for irrigation and the harvested weight (dry & wet) followed the same pattern, Significant
differences (P < 0.05) were noted for the fruit number, fruit weight and harvested weight in rainfed cropping.
23-Oct. planting date recorded the highest value and the 2-April planting date produced the least value. This was
as a result of the climatic condition during the planting period. 2-May and 23-Oct. planting dates received
favourable environment for growth and this produced the highest value. The report of Oladitan and Akinseye
(2014), and Agele (2014) on the effect of climate variability on tomato production confirms that the nutrient in the
soil and fertilizer applied were released to both soil and plant and with the presence of moisture enhanced the
growth and yield of crops. Interactive effect of variety and fertilizer types as well as variety and planting date
interaction were significant on the fruit number and harvested fruit weight for both seasons.
The varieties showed a significant influence on shoot dry weight and the harvest index (HI) under irrigation but
not significant in rainfed condition. Fertilizer application had no significant influence on the HI however,
significant effects was noted for control plots. Fertilizer application affected shoot weight of the green pepper
varieties, organomineral fertilizer produced the highest shoot weight, closely followed by organic fertilizer while
the control recorded the least value under rainfed. The ORF recorded the maximum value which was significantly
different from organomineral fertilizer value, control recorded the least. This may be due to the influence of
source of N and the period of release for plant use. This supports the findings of Edossa et al. (2013) on the
growth and yield of tomato as influenced by N and P fertilizer. The interaction of treatment factors was not
significant with respect to shoot weight under irrigation while it was significant in rainfed cropping. HI was
significant in both planting seasons.
