International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.4, 143-161 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 159 (soil + cocopeat + FYM + vermicompost) supported the highest leaf production (5.13 leaves at 40 DAS), followed by M4 and M3. The superior performance of these organic-enriched substrates can be attributed to their improved physical and chemical properties, which enhance nutrient uptake and moisture retention. This supports Rekha et al. (2018) and Ravindran et al. (2019), who highlighted the role of organic amendments in promoting leaf initiation through better root-zone conditions. Although the variety × media interaction was not statistically significant, trends revealed V1 responded slightly better in M5, while V2 performed marginally better in M3 and M4. These findings are consistent with Singh et al. (2019b), who reported that genotype-media interactions can influence growth patterns, even when not statistically significant. Both variety and growing media significantly influenced root length and leaf area in Capsicum at 40 DAS, though their interaction was not statistically significant. California Wonder (V2) exhibited significantly longer roots (4.36 cm) than Sagar Hybrid (V1) (3.72 cm), while it also showed a higher, though non-significant, leaf area (4.28 cm2 vs. 3.33 cm2). These varietal differences reflect inherent physiological capacities, as suggested by Ravindran et al. (2019), who noted that genotypes with greater root expansion are better at nutrient and water uptake. Growing media had a much more pronounced effect. M5 (Soil + Cocopeat + FYM + Vermicompost) produced the longest roots (5.70 cm) and largest leaf area (9.75 cm2), indicating superior physical and nutritional conditions. These findings align with Singh et al. (2019a) and Rekha et al. (2018), who observed enhanced root and canopy development in substrates rich in organic matter. The poor performance of M1 (control) and M2 (soil + cocopeat) further supports the role of balanced nutrient inputs in promoting early seedling growth. Although the interaction effect was not significant, graphical trends showed V2 responding more strongly to enriched media, particularly M5, where it exceeded 6 cm in root length and 10 cm2 in leaf area. This supports Singh et al. (2019b), who emphasized the genotype-specific advantages under optimal media conditions. Both variety and growing media had significant effects on the fresh and dry weights of Capsicum seedlings, with growing media exerting a stronger influence. California Wonder (V2) consistently showed higher biomass accumulation, with fresh and dry weights of 0.56 g and 0.06 g, respectively, compared to Sagar Hybrid (V1), which recorded 0.47 g and 0.04 g. These findings align with Khanal et al. (2024) and Ravindran et al. (2019), who reported that varietal differences in biomass accumulation are linked to genotypic efficiency in resource uptake and translocation. Among media treatments, M5 (Soil + Cocopeat + FYM + Vermicompost) resulted in the highest biomass (1.13 g fresh and 0.12 g dry), demonstrating the superior nutritional and moisture-retaining capacity of this enriched mix. This agrees with Rekha et al. (2018) and Olatunji et al. (2019), who showed that organic amendments enhance seedling biomass by improving nutrient availability and root development. Poor performance in M1 (control) and M2 (soil + cocopeat) further emphasizes the importance of balanced organic inputs. Although the variety × media interaction was not statistically significant, trends showed that California Wonder responded more positively to organic-enriched substrates. These results are supported by Singh et al. (2019b), who highlighted that such media improve seedling growth across diverse genotypes, particularly in early stages. 5 Conclusion The study demonstrated that the growth media composition significantly influenced the vegetative parameters of Capsicum varieties, with soil + cocopeat + FYM + vermicompost (1:1:1:1) emerging as the most effective medium. This treatment consistently showed superior results in seedling length (6.91 cm), stem diameter (0.28 cm), number of leaves (5.13), root length (5.70 cm), leaf area (9.75 cm2), fresh weight (1.13 g), and dry weight (0.12 g) at 40 DAS. The second-best performing medium was soil + vermicompost, which also provided substantial improvements in plant growth compared to control soil. The high performance of these media can be attributed to enhanced water retention, better aeration, and increased nutrient availability, as supported by various studies. Among the Capsicum varieties, California Wonder consistently exhibited higher vegetative growth than Sagar, particularly in seedling length, stem diameter, root length, and fresh weight. The lowest growth performance was observed in the control treatment (soil alone), indicating that organic amendments are essential
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