Standardization of growing media for cost effective production of Capsicum seedling under naturally ventilated polyhouse in Kumaon Region

Production of healthy and vigorous capsicum seedling is most important factor in successful commercial production and yield and quality of capsium fruits. Moreover, germination of the seed is a critical, because the rest of the plant life is directly dependent upon the rate of its germination. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of various locally available seedlings growing media on seedling growth of capsicum seedlings as well as growth and yield of capsicum inherent with the nutrients with seedling growing medium ball. Different cost effective growing media treatments were used viz., soil, FYM, vermicompost, forest litter alone or in combination in equal proportion to raise the seedlings of capsicum cv. California Wonder in portrays under naturally ventilated polyhouse at ICAR-CITH Regional Station, Mukteshwar, Nainital (UK) during 2016-17 and 2017-18. The objective of this study was to determine the best growing media (soil alone and its different combinations with farm yard manure, vermicompost and forest litter) in portray for healthy seedling and germination percentage of pepper cv. California Wonder under polyhouse conditions. The results of the study showed that mixture of media significantly increased length, diameter and weight of seedling. However, maximum seed germination (82.50 %) recorded in FYM+VC and VC+FL media. Whereas, highest seedling height (16.12 cm) and girth (2.61 mm) found in FYM media. The seedling raised in soil+vermicompost media produced maximum number of secondary roots/seedling (51.20). The plants of which seedlings were raised in soil+FYM+VC+FL media produced maximum average fruit weight (98.43g) whereas, maximum fruit yield/plant (1.42 Kg.) recorded with the plants of which seedlings were grown in FYM+VC+FL media. The maximum benefit: cost ratio (3.16) of seedling production of capsicum cv. California Wonder was found with seedlings produced in the FYM growing media.