EFFECT OF MORINGA LEAF EXTRACT ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CHILI (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

The using of synthetics fertilizers to improve soil fertility and crop yield have adverse effect on soil and environment. Different organic material may use to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of Moringa leaf extract (MLE) as a growth hormone on growth and yield of chili (Capsicum annum L.). The experiment was carried out at Agroforestry and environmental science research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207 during the period from December, 2021 to May, 2022. This pot experiment was laid out in Randomized block design (RCBD). This experiment comprised of six treatment with seven replications. Treatments were T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 with 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 ml MLE solution respectively. This single factor experiment was done by using chili (BARI Morich-2). The result revealed that different level of Moringa leaf extract showed significant variation on parameters studied during the experiment. The result indicated that T5 treatment showed highest results on plant height (84.72 cm), leaf number (191.78), number of branches (14.0), stem diameter (2.12 cm), days of first flowering (51.42 days), fresh weight of shoot (364.93 g), fresh weight of root (84.22 g), dry weight of shoot (51.48 g), dry weight of root (15.77 g), number of fruits (194.4), length of fruits (11.17 cm), weight of fruits (311.32 g), yield of fruits (19.60 tha-1). The result also indicated that T0 treatment showed lowest growth and yield contributing all the parameters. Growth and yield of chili plant gradually increased with the increased of MLE. It can be stated that higher dose of MLE is positively correlated with growth and yield of chili. So, T5 treatment can recommend to obtain superior growth and yield of chili plant.