CAPSICUM FARMING AND ITS USES

INTRODUCTION

Capsicum is thought to have originated from Mexico. Columbus introduced Capsicum in  Spain in 1493. Cultivation spread from the Mediterranean region to England by 1548 and to Central Europe by the close of the 16th century. Portuguese brought Capsicum into India prior to 1885. In China it came under cultivation during the late 1700s.

Capsicum is variously called as green pepper, sweet pepper, bell pepper, etc. In shape and pungency it is different from Chilli (Pepper). It is fleshy, roundish, more like a bell and hence named bell pepper. Almost all the varieties of green pepper are very mild in pungency, and some of them are non-pungent, and, as such, they can be used as stuffed vegetable.

There are five major cultivated species in the genus Capsicum.

Suitable Climate For Capsicum Growing.

Capsicum crop requires day temperature of 25-30⁰C and night temperature of 18-20⁰C with relative humidity of 50-60%. If temperature exceeds 35⁰C or falls below 12⁰C, fruit setting is affected. For this reason, Capsicum is a cool season crop. However, it is a favorite for polyhouse growers where it can be grown round the year where required temperature and relative humidity (RH) can be maintained.

It requires a similar climate like that of Chilli and is also susceptible to frost. It prefers milder climate than Chilli. Higher temperatures are detrimental to fruit set. High temperature and low relative humidity at the time of flowering are harmful to buds, flowers and small fruits. Moreover, higher night temperatures are found to be responsible for the higher capsicin (pungency) content in green pepper.

Soil Requirements

Although sweet pepper can be grown in almost all types of soils, well drained clay loam soil is considered ideal for its cultivation. It can withstand acidity to a certain extent. Levelled and raised beds have been found more suitable than sunken beds for its cultivation. On sandy loam soils, the crop can be successfully grown provided the manuring is done heavily and the crop is irrigated properly and timely. The most suitable pH range of soil for green pepper is 6 to 6.5.

Sowing Time

The sweet pepper is generally sown in August for the autumn-winter crop and in November for the spring -summer crop. In the hills of North Bengal sowing of seeds in the months of MarchApril (under cover) and September -October, is very successful for getting high yield. Plants sown in September and October take the longest period for development because of poor availability of light in winter.

Land Preparation and Bed Making

The land should be thoroughly ploughed and soil should be brought to fine tilth. Well decomposed organic manure at the rate of 20-25 kg per sq meter is mixed with soil. This would be sufficient to grow three capsicum crops successively. Raised beds are formed after bringing soil to fine tilth. The bed size should be 90-100 cm. wide and 15-22 cm. height. Between the beds walking space of 45 cm to 50 cm need to be provided.

Fertilizer Application to Beds

A basal fertilizer dose of 20:25:20 NPK is required per acre before transplanting of the seedlings. Farmers can give this in their various ways. One such way is to  use of  80 kg Calcium Ammonium Nitrate, 125 kg Super Phosphate and 32 kg Murate of Potash or 40 kg Sulphate Of Potash.  It requires phosphate in higher quantity. While the phosphate and potash is given in one single time, nitrogen would be staggered to 2 or 3 times. It needs to be stressed that Fertilizer application actually depends upon the soil of the farmer. It is recommended to have the soil and water analyzed before deciding on the actual quantity of fertilizers.

Do this Also

Make a mix Trichoderma harzianam, Pseudomonas lilacinous and Paecilomyces chilmdosporia 2 kg each are mixed thoroughly to 200 kg of powdered and moist neem cake. Cover the mix with wet gunny bags or dry grass. Avoid direct exposure to sunlight and rainfall. Add another 600 kg of neem cake to this mixture after 10 days. Apply the mix to beds. This will reduce soil borne pathogens and nematodes.

Mulching and Spacing

Black polyethylene non-recycled mulch film of 30-100 micron thick, 1.2 m wide, is used to cover the planting beds. Holes of 5 cm diameter are made on the polyethylene film as per the recommended spacing (45cm x 30cm). The planting beds are covered with the film by securing the edges of the sheet firmly in the soil. Mulching practice conserves water, controls weeds, reduces pests and diseases infestation,  and results in higher yield with good quality produce.

Raising Capsicum Seedlings

Seeds are raised in raised beds.  This could be inside a protected environment or outside depending upon the nursery. But the basics steps will remain same or similar.

Selection of seed is most important first step. The seedlings are raised in trays with cavities. 160-200 gm of seeds is required for approximately getting 16,000 to 20,000 seedlings for one acre area.

The trays are filled with sterilized coco peat and seeds are sown, one seed per cell to a depth of ½ cm and covered with the same media.

The trays are usually stacked vertically and covered with plastic sheet till seed germination.

Seeds germinate in about one week time. Thereafter, trays are shifted to net house/ polyhouse and lightly watered. After 15 days fertilization with MAP  (3g/L) is done. After 22 days seedlings are drenched with solution of NKP 19:19:19 (3g/L).

Seedling which having attained 4-5 leaves are ready to be be transplanted. The nursery beds should be irrigated before lifting of seedlings. The seedlings are transplanted in rows in the evening or during the cloudy day followed by irrigation. Generally, 50 to 60 days old seedlings are used for transplanting.

The seedlings will be ready for transplanting in 30-35 days. Before transplanting, seedlings are drenched with Copper oxychloride solution @ 3g/L. Sprays of Imidacloprid @ 0.2 ml/L and Chlorothelonil @ 1gm/L are also done. Use wetting agents with pesticides for greater persistence.

Transplanting of Capsicum Seedlings

The planting beds are watered to field capacity before transplanting. Seedlings of 30-35 days old are used for transplanting. Care should be taken to see that no damage is occurred to roots, while taking out the seedlings from individual cells of portray. Seedlings are transplanted into holes made in polyethylene mulch film at a depth of 5 cm. After transplanting, seedlings are drenched with 3 g/L copper oxychloride or 3 g/L captan or 2 g/L copper hydroxide solution to the base of seedlings at the rate of 25-30 ml per plant. Water the mulched beds daily during afternoon by using hose pipe for a week continuously is essential to avoid mortality due to heat trapped by mulch sheet.

Home hobby enthusiasts would do well to make a potting mixture of equal parts of compost, perlite and peat moss or coir.  Another potting mixture may be suggested to contain of 5 parts of wood chips, one part of peat moss and one part of perlite/vermiculite.

Irrigation 

The first irrigation is given just after transplanting and later the field should be irrigated as and when required. Irrigation is essential in arid and semi-arid regions. 

Pruning

Capsicum plants are pruned to retain four stems. The tip of the plant splits into two at 5th or 6th node and are left to grow. These two branches again split in to two giving rise to four branches. At every node the tip splits into two giving rise to one strong branch and one week branch. The pruning is done after 30 days of transplanting at an interval of 8 to 10 days. This results in bigger fruits with better quality and higher productivity. The capsicum plants can also be pruned to two stems and same level of yield can be maintained.

Further Fertilization

Farmers know that nutrigation (irrigation + nutrient) is a continuing routine for the entire life cycle of the plants. Farmers need to make a chart for this purpose.  In addition to soil, nutrition would be required to be given through foliar sprays.

Capsicum crop is sprayed with water soluble fertilizers like potassium nitrate and calcium nitrate at every 3 week interval after 2 months of transplanting @ 3g/ l as foliar application. Magnesium sprays are also helpful in increasing productivity. Again please do check on the soil and water.

Companion Plants

Basil, Carrots, Eggplants, Onions, Cucumber, Spinach, Parsley are some companion plants which may be grown along with Capsicum.

Weed Control in Capsicum Farming   

Weed control needs to be an important cultural operation. Weeding, thinning and earthing up are the important intercultural operations of Capsicum farming.

Pests and Diseases Control  

Some information on insects, pests and disease of Capsicum is discussed below. The control measures depend upon type and intensity of the problems and also whether organic or inorganic pesticides are to be used as decided by the Farmer. For more information on pests and diseases please go through my blog on same.

Insects

Downey Mildew: spraying Dithane M-45 at interval is recommended.

Green Jassids: spray  chloropyrofos/ dichlorvos/dimethoate/phorate/imidacloprid

Shoot and Fruit Borer: spray endosulfan/chloropyrofos. Spread phorate.

White Fly: spray Malathion. Drench with thimet.

Thrips: spray imidaclorprid/chloropyrosdimethoate. Several sprays may be required.

Scale insects: Spraying of parathion (0.03%) emulsion, dimethoate 150 ml and 250 ml kerosene oil in 100 liter of water or malathion@ 0.1 % or carbonyl @ 0.05% plus oil 1%.

Caterpillar may be handpicked and removed.

Leaf miner: Spraying of phosphomidon @ 1 ml or monocrotophos @ 1.5 ml. per liter 2 or 3 times fortnightly.

Grubs are in the earth and they chew on the roots. Later on they transform into beetles and chew leaves. Imidaclorprid spray and drenching is indicated.

Diseases

Fungal diseases, brown powdery on leaves. It is advised to remove such leaves. Spray neem oil one teaspoon into approximately 10 liters of water.

Leaf blight makes leaves turn yellow. Even though the vigor of the plant may not be much affected, plant look becomes ungainly. Remove such leaves.

Gummosis: Scraping off the affected area and application of Bordeaux mixture or copper oxyfluoride.

Anthracnose: Dried twigs are pruned off first. This to be followed by two sprays of carbendazim @1 grams/liter or copper oxychloride – 3 grams/liter fortnightly.

Spray of Zineb or Mancozeb may be regularly done weekly. Leaf curl can be prevented by spray of dimethoate.

Nutritional Value

All peppers are good source of vitamin A, C and K; however, the red ones are the highest in nutritional value. Red peppers also contain carotenoids such as lycopene and beta-cryptoxanthin. They are rich in phytochemicals and have significant amount of fiber. A substance capsaicin which occurs in the white membranes of other peppers is present in lesser amounts in bell peppers. Some of the nutrients available in bell peppers are given below.

Capsicum approximately have Vitamin A (8493 IU), Vitamin C (283 mg) and minerals like Calcium (13.4 mg), Magnesium (14.9 mg) Phosphorus (28.3 mg) Potassium, (263.7 mg) per 100 g fresh weight.

Usage of Capsicum

• Capsicum and Capsicum rinds are popular in cooking. This versatile vegetable can be stuffed, roasted, used in stir-fries or simply eaten raw.
• Capsicums are an excellent source of vitamin A and C (red contain more than green capsicums). Capsicums contain more vitamin C than oranges (based on weight)
• They are also a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin E, B6 and folate.
• Some research shows that taking capsules containing capsicum twice daily 30 minutes before eating for 12 weeks reduces stomach fat but not weight in overweight and obese people.
• The sweetness of capsicums is due to their natural sugars (green capsicums have less sugar than red capsicums).
• Energy – 100 g of green capsicum supplies 90 kJ (105 kJ from red capsicum).

Risks

Consuming Capsicums in moderate amounts is generally safe. However, the fruits can cause a stinging pain when in contact with open wounds, such as a cut lip or a mouth ulcer.

Some side effects of consumption are diarrhea, heartburn and upset stomach which may be harmful to pregnant women and children.

When to Harvest a Capsicum

Green capsicum can be harvested at 55 to 60 days after transplanting, yellow capsicum at 70-75 days whereas red capsicum at 80-90 days. Fruits can be harvested once in 3 to 4 days. Yellow and red fruits can be harvested when they have gained 50-80 per cent of the color development.

Early morning hours are best suited for capsicum harvest. After harvest fruits should be kept in cool place and avoid direct exposure to sunlight. The fruits should be plucked carefully and damage to plant should be minimized. The average yield of capsicum per acre is 30-40 tons. Capsicum plant can have life of around 8 months.

About nkp

Hi ; I have had opportunity to travel widely and have keen watched whatever farming practices the local farmers were engaged in. Back home been growing gerberas mostly in polyhouses, but outside in kitchen garden as well. i love these hardy perennials. good for business too if done in a routine orderly scientific manner. Also engaged in farming of wheat and organic vegetables on a small scale for me and family. My service profile has been that of an electronic and telecom engineer and now am engaged in web site creation and blogging.