International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.4, 143-161 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 143 Research Article Open Access Effect of Different Growing Media on Growth and Germination Parameters of Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Seed in Bhojpur, Nepal Prabin Sapkota 1, Jibisha Poudel 1, Sakshi Mandal 1, Arzu Chaudhary 1, Abhishek Baniya 2, Megha Upadhyay 2, Shafat Rukhsar 1, Abhishek Chaudhary3, Lokesh Pokharel 1, Rupesh Kumar Mehta1 , Chetana Roy1 1 Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Horticulture, G. P. Koirala College of Agriculture and Research Center, Gothgaun, Morang, 56600, Nepal 2 Department of Agriculture, College of Natural Resource Management, Agriculture and Forestry University, Kapilakot, Sindhuli, 45912, Nepal 3 Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Institute of Science and Technology, College of Agricultural Sciences, SRMIST, Chennai, 603201, India Corresponding email: entersgz1907@gmail.com International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.4 doi: 10.5376/ijh.2025.15.0016 Received: 31 Mar., 2025 Accepted: 22 Jun., 2025 Published: 29 Jul., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Sapkota et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Sapkota P., Poudel J., Mandal S., Chaudhary A., Baniya A., Upadhyay M., Rukhsar S., Chaudhary A., Pokharel L., Mehta R.K., and Roy C., 2025, Effect of different growing media on growth and germination parameters of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) seed in Bhojpur, Nepal, International Journal of Horticulture, 15(4): 143-161 (doi: 10.5376/ijh.2025.15.0016) Abstract Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum), particularly the California Wonder variety, is a high-value vegetable crop in Nepal, contributing significantly to farmers' livelihoods and food security. However, optimizing nursery practices remains a challenge, as seedling growth and establishment are highly influenced by the choice of growing media. Selecting an appropriate medium can enhance seedling vigor, leading to improved crop productivity and economic returns. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of different growing media on the germination and growth parameters of bell pepper seedlings in Bhojpur, Nepal, during the spring season (May-June 2023). The experiment followed a two-factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two levels of treatment combinations. Seeds of California Wonder and Sagar varieties were procured from local agro-vets and sown in seed trays using different growth media: Soil, Soil + Cocopeat (1:1), Soil + Farmyard Manure (FYM) (3:1), Soil + Vermicompost (1:1), and Soil + Cocopeat + FYM + Vermicompost (1:1:1:1). The results demonstrated a significant influence of the growing medium on key germination and growth parameters. The highest germination percentage (90.83%) and germination rate index (67.70) were recorded in Soil + Vermicompost (1:1), whereas the Soil + Cocopeat + FYM + Vermicompost (1:1:1:1) medium yielded the highest values for seedling vigor index (950.05), number of leaves (5.13), seedling length (6.91 cm), stem diameter (0.28 cm), fresh weight (1.13 g), dry weight (0.12 g), root length (5.70 cm), and leaf area (9.75 cm²). Among the tested varieties, California Wonder performed best in most growth parameters, except germination percentage and germination rate index. Optimizing its nursery conditions with sustainable growing media can enhance seedling establishment and boost bell pepper production in Nepal. Keywords Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum); Growth media; Capsicum; Seed germination; Seedling growth 1 Introduction Bell pepper (Capsicum annuumL.), belonging to the Solanaceae family, is a widely cultivated and economically significant vegetable crop in Nepal (Vivek et al., 2017; Rekha et al., 2018). Commonly known as sweet pepper or Shimla mirch, it is valued for its rich nutritional profile, vibrant color, and versatility in culinary uses. Although it is a perennial plant, it is usually grown as an annual crop due to climatic suitability. The crop thrives in tropical to sub-temperate conditions, and is adaptable to elevations up to 2,000 meters, making it suitable for diverse agro-climatic zones of Nepal. Bhojpur district, a notable vegetable production area, has emerged as a key site for capsicum cultivation, covering approximately 482 hectares with an average yield of 1,817 metric tons per hectare (MoALD, 2023). The crop prefers fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 5.6, and optimalgrowthoccursbetween21 °Cand25 °C.Temperaturesaboveorbelowthisrangecannegativelyaffect germination and fruit development (Demir et al., 2010). Despite its importance, bell pepper cultivation in Nepal faces several constraints such as low germination rates, poor seedling vigor, pest and disease incidence, and inadequate nursery management (Agarwal et al., 2007). Among these, low seed germination and weak seedling vigor remain primary bottlenecks affecting overall productivity. Seedling performance is influenced by seed quality, environmental conditions, and especially by the
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