Effect of pruning systems on growth and yield traits of greenhouse grown bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out during 2016-2017 with the objective of observing the effect of the tested systems of pruning on vegetative, fruiting, yield and quality traits of capsicum varieties. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with four replications and nine treatments with Indra, Bachata and Inspiration cultivars of capsicum pruned with three intensities i.e. two shoots, four shoots and un-pruned (control). The results showed that the two stem pruning treatment significantly affected the plant growth and flowering characteristics in terms of plant height (194.75cm), number of days to first flower (20.25 days) in cv. Indra. Same cultivar when left un-pruned recorded more number of fruits per plant (23.64 fruits), but fruit yield per plant (4.14kg) was observed in four stem pruning treatment in Indra cultivar of capsicum than other cultivars tried.