PEPPER PRODUCTION
A complete Guide
By Dahlia Shumba 0717816552
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Pepper Production
Classification Family Solanaceae
Genus Capsicum
Species annuum
Soil requirements Soils Sandy loam or well drained soils
pH 5.6-6.8
Climatic requirements Temperature 18-35ᵒC (not below 12ᵒC, not above 36ᵒC)
Time of planting Summer crop November
Winter irrigated crop February- April
Spring irrigated crop Late July – Early August
Seed requirement Seeds/g 150-175
Seeds/ha 150-200g
Single line (80cm), Tramline (50-60cm between tramlines,
Spacing Interrow 100cm between rows)
Inrow 30-50cm
Plant population Minimum 20k
Maximum 40k
Varieties Red (Ganga, California wonder, Commandant, Jupiter, Hercules, Serenade, Duke
Yellow (Admiral, Solanor, Springbok, Diva, Golden dawn)
Fertilisation
Rate
Application Fertiliser Composition g/plant Remarks
Basal Manure N/A 3000 All at planting
Compound C 5:15:12 100 All at planting
Gypsum 45 All at planting
Top dressing Ammonium Nitrate 34.5%N 5 Top dressing
Potassium Nitrate 13:0:46 15 Split top dressing
Calcium nitrate 15%N, 20%Ca 10 Split top dressing
Fertility trench preparation
Fertility trenches will allow a longer growing period due to easy
root growth in loosened nutrient rich soil layer
Make trenches 40-50cm deep and 30-40cm wide
Divide your trench into 3 layers
In each layer apply recommended propotions of manure and
fertilisers as recommended by soil test results, then mix
thoroughly with the soil to ensure good distribution
Ammonium nitrate
Apply 5g (Cup 5) at week 3 after emergence
Potassium nitrate
Split apply equally (Cup 5) at week 6, 8 and 10
Calcium nitrate
Split apply equally (Cup 2) at week 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13
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Supplementary fertilisers
Winstart- spray at week 2 and 3 at 1% solution (10g/l of water)
Wingrow- spray at week 4 and 5 at 1% solution (10g/l of water)
Winbloom- spray from week 6 onwards at 1% solution (10g/l of water)
Calcium nitrate- spray from week 7 onwards at 2g/l of water every 2 weeks
NB: More supplementary fertilisers are available on the market
*Total fertiliser application = Rate/plant * Plant population (Divide by 1000 to convert to kgs)
PESTS, DISEASES, WEEDS CONTROL
Herbicides
Pre-emergence Metolachlor
Post-emergence Propaquizafop, Fluazifop-p-Butyl
Pests
Nematodes Stink bug Aphids
Oxamyl, Fenamiphos, Velum Methomyl, Imidacloprid,
Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid,
Acetamiprid, Malathion, Dichlorvos
Malathion, Dichlorvos, Dimethoate
Deltamethrin
Whitefly American leafminer Redspider
Thiamethoxam, Methomyl, Acetamiprid, Abamectin, Amitraz, Dicofol, Abamectin,
Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Cyromazine, Novaluron, Diazinon, Profenofos, Chlofernapyr,
Dichlorvos, Chess indoxacarb, Deltamethrin, Emamectin benzoate, Dimethoate
Emamectin benzoate
Tuta African bollworm Semi-looper
B. thrungiensis, Acephate, Cartap hydrochloride, Deltamethrin, Emamectin benzoate, Lufenuron, Indoxacarb,
Fipronil, Flubendiamide, Chlorantraniliprole, Mercaptothion, Abamectin, Malathion, Dichlorvos, Methomyl,
Diazinon, Chlorpyrifos
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Pepper maggot Thrips Cutworms
Deltamethrin, Emamectin benzoate, Chlorpyrifos, Lambda cyhalothrin,
Abamectin, Imidacloprid,
Lufenuron, Diazinon, Carbaryl, Carbaryl, Deltamethrin
Acetamiprid, Malathion,
Acephate Dichlorvos, Deltamethrin
Diseases
Damping off Downey mildew Phytophtora leaf blight
Captan, Copper oxychloride, Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride,
Mancozeb, Thiram, Metalaxyl Chemlaxyl, Chlorothalonil Chlorothalonil, Propineb,
Chemlaxyl, Cymoxanil
Alternaria leaf blight Powdery mildew Fusarium wilt
Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Tebuconazole, Triadimenole, Drench Benomyl, Copper based
Tebuconazole, Chlorothalonil, Benomyl, Sulphur fungicides. But the best way to
Difenoconazole, Trifloxystrobin, control the disease is crop rotation
Azoxystrobin
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Anthracnose Gray mold Bacterial complex
Fungicides are not effective
in controlling bacterial
diseases
Always plant certified seed
resistant to diseases
Application of Acibenzolar-
S-Methyl will activate the
plant against bacterial
diseases
Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride,
Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Tebuconazole, Chlorothalonil,
Chemlaxyl, Chlorothalonil Difenoconazole, Trifloxystrobin,
Azoxystrobin
**Always read the labels on chemicals for rates and post-harvest intervals
**Chemicals listed in active ingredients, trade names may differ
**Chemical colour codes do not illustrate the effectiveness in pest control, but the toxicity to the operator
Physiological Disorders
Blossom endrot Failure to set fruits
Caused by Calcium deficiency Caused by lack of pollination, too much or little
Calcium supplement will help together with nitrogen, moisture stress, extreme temperatures and
regular watering to increase calcium absorption humidity, heavy fruit set and application of MOP at
from the soil fruit set stage
Sunscald Leaf roll
Caused by exposure of fruits to direct sunlight. Caused by copper deficiency but most commonly
Normally common when pruning has been done by environmental stress, thus very low or high
lately and fruits have suddenly been exposed to temperatures.
sunlight
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Pepper Program
Planting date Variety
Plant pop Area Spacing
Days of the week Monday ↆ Tuesday ↆ Wednesday ↆ Thursday ↆ Friday ↆ
Week after Age Date Herbicides/ 16l Fertilisers/plant Pesticides/ 16l Fungicides/ 16l Foliar sprays/
emergence knapsack knapsack 16l knapsack
Planting Metolachlor Compound C 100g Lambda 16ml Venus 80g
120ml Gypsum 45g Oxamyl 160ml Copper 80g
Rotten manure 3kg
1 7 Dimethoate 16ml Bravo 32ml
2 14 Abamectin 16ml Antracol 32g Winstart 160g
3 21 AN(NH₄NO₃) 5g Thunder 16ml Acomil 50g Winstart 160g
4 28 Fluazifop 120ml Muroti 16ml Orius 16ml Wingrow 160g
5 35 Calcium nitrate 2g Belt 4ml Copper 80g Wingrow 160g
6 42 PN(KNO₃) 5g Dimethoate 16ml Bravo 32ml Calcibor 160ml
7 49 Calcium nitrate 2g Abamectin 16ml Antracol 32g Winbloom 160g
8 56 PN(KNO₃) 5g Thunder 16ml Acomil 50g Calcibor 160ml
9 63 Calcium nitrate 2g Muroti 16ml Orius 16ml Winbloom 160g
10 70 PN(KNO₃) 5g Belt 4ml Copper 80g Calcibor 160ml
11 77 Calcium nitrate 2g Dimethoate 16ml Bravo 32ml Winbloom 160g
12 84 Abamectin 16ml Antracol 32g Calcibor 160ml
13 91 Calcium nitrate 2g Thunder 16ml Acomil 50g
14 98 Muroti 16ml Orius 16ml
15 105 Belt 4ml
16 112
17 119
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