Effect of Alternative Nitrogen Sources on the Leafcurl Complex and Yield of Chilli

A field experiment was conducted during 2005 and 2006 to study the effect of Nitrogen sources and biorationals on the performance of chilli and expression of leafcurl complex. Recommended fertilizer (RDF @ 100:50:50 kg NPK ha⁻¹) and 50:50:50 kg ha⁻¹ NPK through fertilizers and remaining 50% N substitution equally through 2.5 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost and 500 kg ha⁻¹ neem cake as main treatment and seven biorationals, silic, recommended plant protection chemical (RPP) and absolute control formed subplot treatments. Significantly higher dry pod yield was recorded with integrated N supply (795 kg ha⁻¹) compared to RDF. Among the biorational sprays, alternate spray of Abamectin (3 sprays) and Perfect (2 sprays) produced good quality fruits by nearly 44 per cent over chilli grown with RPP sprays (two sprays of dimethoate @1.7 ml l⁻¹ + 2 sprays of dicofol @ 2.5 ml l⁻¹ + carbaryl @ 4g l⁻¹), due to reduced the leafcurl disease to the extent of 58 per cent over RPP and almost by 279 per cent over crop without any protection measures.