Chilli (Capsicum annuum)

Introduction:
Chilli: Hot pepper: Red pepper
Capsicum: Bell pepper: Sweet pepper
Chilli is one of the most valuable crops of Nepal. The crop is grown largely for its fruits all
over Nepal. It is used in Nepal as a principle ingredient of various curries, and chutneys. It is
also used for vegetables, spices, condiments, sauces and pickles. Dry chillies are used for
curry powder. Red colour in chili is due to "Capsanthin". Pungency in chillies is due to the
active constituent "Capsaicin". They are rich source of vitamin C and Vitamin A. Chillies are
grown as summer, rainy and winter crop in the frost free areas and in summer and rainy
season in severe frost areas.

Climate:
 For cultivation of chilli and bell pepper 18-320C and 18-220Ctemperature is
considered as favourable.
 Above 350C there is reduced in vegetative growth period
 Area with 600-1200 mm rainfall are suitable for cultivation.
Soil:
 The soil should be well drained.
 It can be grown in wide range of soil but loamy soil is best.
 Soil should be high in organic matter.
 Optimum pH is 5.5-6.5.

Varieties
 Chilli: Jwala, Karma 777, Karma 747, Nepa Hot, Anna 3, Goli, Big Mama, Premium,
Marshal
 Capsicum: California Wonder, Chinese Giant, Arka Mohini, Arka Gaurab, Sagar

Seed Rate
 For hot peeper 600-800gm of seed is required for one hectare of land
 For hybrid 250-300g seed is required for one hectare of land

Sowing time:
Geographical Location Chilli Capsicum
Seed Sowing Transplanting Seed Sowing Transplanting
Terai July-Aug Nov-Feb March-April June-Aug
Mid hills (Seasonal) Oct-Feb May-June Jan-Feb April-June
(Offseasonal) June-July Aug-Sept Aug-Sept Nov-May
High hills Feb-March June-Aug Aug-Sept Nov-March
Nursery Raising:
Similar to that of tomato.

Land Preparation:
 Field is ploughed 4-5 times with soil turning plough.
 Levelling should be done after ploughing.
 Raised beds should be made for proper drainage facilities.

Fertilizer Requirement
 Compost 20-30kg/ha of FYM is applied during land preparation.
 NPK requirement for Chilli Nitrogen: 100kg/ha Phosphorous: 60kg/ha Potassium:
40kg/ha
 Bell pepper is a heavy feeder crop thus requires higher NPK dose. The NPK
requirement for bell pepper is 200:100:100 NPK/ha is recommended.
 In both crops full dose of P and K and one third dose of Nitrogen is applied during
land preparation while remaining N is applied in two doses. One third doses after 25
DAT (Days After Transplanting) and one third after 50 DAT.

Transplanting:
 Hardening should be done for seedling by holding irrigation.
 Transplanting of seedling is done on either ridges or on side.

Spacing:
 Chilli are transplanted at spacing of 60 x 30 cm and bell peppers at 60 x 45 cm during
main season.
 80 x 60 cm for off-season planting of chilli.
 For perennial cropping, 150 x 150 cm.

Irrigation
 Irrigation is applied @ 10-15 days interval in cool weather and 7-10 days interval in
hot climate.
 First irrigation is done after 20 days of transplanting followed by light earthing up.

Weed Control:
 Normal weed control includes two hand hoeing in first and third fortnight after
transplanting and earthing up operation during second fortnight.
 Application of herbicides like Metribuzin @0.35kg/ha, Fluchloralin @ 1.25 kg/ha (10
days before transplanting) has been found to be advantageous over hand weeding.
Harvesting:
 The green chillies and sweet pepper are harvested at two stage i.e. one for green
vegetable and other for dry purpose.
 They are harvested when they attain full size before they approach to ripening stage.
 For dry purpose green chillies are harvested at full red ripening stage.
 They are picked up at frequent intervals.
 If possible it is harvested twice a week or generally once a week.

Yield
 Green chillies: 7-12 t/ha.
 50-80 kg seed/ha

Postharvest Management:
 After harvesting, the fruits are dried by spreading on floor or on roof of house.
 It takes generally 7-12 days to dry but commercially, it can be dried in 2-3 days at
540C.

Storage
 Green chillies and sweet pepper should be cooled immediately after harvesting.
 It is stored and transplanted at temperature between 70C -100C with RH 90-95%.
 Dry chillies stored for several months but should be protected from insects and
pests.

Physiological disorders:
1. Blossom end rot:
Characterized by the appearance of water soaked spots on the blossom end of the
fruit. They turn light brown, papery and dry. Application of
heavy irrigation after moisture stress condition and heavy
nitrogen fertilizer and calcium deficiency are the major causes
of blossom end rot.
Control:
 Cultural practices which conserve soil moisture and spraying of calcium in the
soil.
 Supply light irrigation regularly.
 Avoid heavy application of nitrogenous fertilizers.
2. Sun Scald:
Soft, light coloured and slightly wrinkled areas appear on the
fruit. Later these areas becomes sunken and papery. It is caused
when the fruit is exposed to intense sunlight.
Control:
 Transplant the seedlings in closer spacing.
  Grow the varieties having abundant foliage.
 Control defoliating insect pest and disease.
3. Flower and fruit drop:
It may be due to high temperature and low humidity at flowering causing excessive
transpiration which results in abscission of buds, flowers, and fruit. Other causes are
low light intensity, Short day with high temperature, etc.
Control:
 Give light and frequent irrigation at flowering and fruit set stages.
 Spray the crop with NAA 50 ppm or Tricontanol 2ppm at full bloom stage.

Plant Protection:
A. Insects:
1. Aphids:
They feed heavily on young leaves and tender parts
and cause considerable loss.
Control:
 Spray Metasystox @1.5ml/liter.
 While oil is found beneficial for aphids.
2. Fruit borer:
They are polyphagous in nature and
caterpillars feed on leaves and fruit
and scrap them.
Control:
 Spray Nuvan 1ml/liter of
water at 15 days interval.
3. White fly:
They suck the cell sap of growing leaves and spread leaf
curl disease.
Control:
 Spray Malathion (0.1%) during the infected period.
B. Disease:
1. Damping off:
2. Anthracnose or Dieback:
Symptoms appears as small water soaked spots
which when fully developed are dark sunken with
numerous black dots, bearing spore masses arranged
in concentric rings. In Dieback, tender branches and
fruits from the top shows necrosis.
Control:
 Seed treatment with Thiram or Captan @2gm/kg of seed.
 Spraying Dithane M-45 @3gm/liter of water in 15-20 days interval.
3. Phytophthora blight:
It is the destructive disease of chilli. Initial symptoms in
the field occur as crown rot from soil inoculums. The
general symptoms are wilting of plants and purplish-black
lesions at the collar region. Disease dispersal is by rain,
wind or irrigation.
Control:
 Crop rotation.
 Avoid excessive irrigation and give proper drainage.
 Soil or foliar application of Blitox @3gm/liter is effective.
4. Leaf spot:
This disease is characterized by the formation of small
circular and water soaked spots on the leaves, stems and
petiole. Later leaves turn yellow and finally drop.
Control:
 Remove severely affected plants and destroy them.
 Seed treatment with Captan or Thiram @ 2g/kg of
seeds.
 Spray Bordeaux mixture (1%) or Bavistin at 15 days interval.