International Journal of Innovative Horticulture

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of training shoot number and plant spacing on yield and yield attributes of ‘Natasha’ red capsicum grown under protected condition. There were three spacing viz., 60 × 45, 45 × 45 and 45 × 30 cm and three levels of training shoot number viz., 2, 3 and 4 shoots per plant. The experiment was laid out in factorial completely randomized design with three replications. Length, weight, diameter and specific gravity of fruit were higher in the treatment 60 × 45 cm spacing with 2 shoots whereas number of fruits were found maximum in the treatment spacing 45 × 45 cm with 4 shoots. The maximum yield per plant was recorded for treatment combination spacing 60 × 45 cm with 3 shoots. Among the planting density, the maximum significantly higher fruit length (12.34 cm), fruit breadth (10.44 cm), fruit weight (250.10 g), fruit volume (386.18 cm³), number of fruits plant⁻¹ (32.14) and fruit yield (4.45 kg plant⁻¹) were recorded for spacing 60 × 45 cm. The maximum fruit yield ha⁻¹ (82.10 t ha⁻¹) was recorded under spacing 45 × 30 cm. With respect to levels of training shoots, the treatment 2 shoots plant⁻¹ exhibited higher length, breadth, weight and volume of fruit with lower number of fruit plant⁻¹, whereas retaining 4 shoots plant⁻¹ recorded significantly higher number of fruit. It is recommended to retain 3 shoots plant⁻¹ with spacing of 45 × 45 cm for getting higher yield per unit area.