Effect of organic production techniques on the growth, yield, quality and economics of chilli (Capsicum annuum) and soil quality in dry zone of Karnataka

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 2011 and 2012 in sandy clay loam soils at Bengaluru, to study the effect of different sources of organic manures on growth, yield, quality, economics and soil quality of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). There were 13 treatments, comprising basal application of farmyard manure and vermicompost, biodigested and enriched biodigested liquid manures (BDLM and EBDLM applied after transplanting in 3 splits), 3 sprays of 3% panchagavya (PG) and vermiwash (VW). The treatments were replicated thrice. Among the treatments, application of enriched biodigested liquid manure (EBDLM) at 125 kg N equivalent (eq.)/ha + 3 sprays of panchagavya (3%) recorded significantly higher plant height (87.0 cm), branches/plant (32.9), leaf-area index (2.00), leaf-area duration (51.9 days), total dry-matter production/plant (105.7 g), dry fruit yield (0.90 t/ha), fruits/plant (39.0), 100-fruit weight (135.1 g), fruit length (14.4 cm), ascorbic acid (137.3 mg/100 g) capsaicin content (0.64%), total extractable colour (280.8 ASTA units), oleoresin content (15.4%), gross return (1,51,668), net returns (96,281), benefit: cost (2.74) ratio, and significantly higher soil organic carbon (0.63%), available nitrogen (377.9 kg/ha), phosphorus (87.3 kg/ha), potassium (206.7 kg/ha), bacteria (37.0 × 10⁶ cfu/g soil), fungi (23.2 × 10³ cfu/g soil) and Actinomycetes (13.2 × 10³ cfu/g soil) population as compared to the control.