Influence of date of planting and FYM levels on growth, yield and quality of king chilli (Capsicum chinense Jacquin)

A field experiment was conducted in split plot design with three replications at Horticultural Experimental Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences and rural development, Nagaland University, Medziphema during kharif season 2017 to determine the suitable planting date and optimum level of FyM for getting higher fruit yield of king chilli. the main plot treatments included four dates of planting (20 March, 10 April, 30 April and 20 May). Sub-plot treatments included four levels of FyM (20t ha⁻¹, 15t ha⁻¹, 10t ha⁻¹ and 5t ha⁻¹). results revealed that early planting date (20^th March) produced maximum plant height (79.67 cm), number of branches plant⁻¹ (43.37), number of leaves plant⁻¹ (161.67), leaf length (8.03 cm), leaf width (3.96 cm), leaf area index (0.98), fruit length (6.82 cm), number of fruits plant⁻¹ (65.80) and fruit yield hectare⁻¹ (30.04 q). All these growth, yield and quality parameters were also significantly influenced by various levels of FYM. Application of high dose of FYM (20t ha⁻¹) recorded maximum plant height (68.16 cm), number of branches plant⁻¹ (42.62), number of leaves plant⁻¹ (138.86), leaf length (7.67 cm), leaf width (4.04 cm), leaf area index (0.88), fruit length (6.20 cm), fruit diameter (3.09 cm), number of fruits plant⁻¹ (48.01), average weight of fruit (4.70 g), fruit yield hectare⁻¹ (24.62 q) and vitamin c content (54.38 mg 100g⁻¹). Different planting dates and FYM levels was found non-significant in respect to shelf life of fruits. The interaction effect of planting dates and FYM levels was also found to be significant. Highest fruit yield hectare⁻¹ (41.17 q) and cost benefit ratio (1: 4.6) were recorded when crops planted on 20^th March and applied 20t ha⁻¹ FyM.