EFFECT OF SEED PELLETING AND INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON FRESH MARKET CROP OF BELL PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.) IN THE MID HILLS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA

The present investigation was conducted at Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan during Kharif season 2016-17 and 2017-18, to evaluate the effect of seed pelleting and integrated nutrient management on fresh market crop of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) using cv. Solan Bharpur. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design at spacing 60 x 45 cm having 24 treatment combinations comprised of four pelleting treatments including unpelleted control and six integrated nutrient management treatments. Among 24 treatments under study, treatment P1N4 (seeds pelleted with zinc sulphate + application of Azotobacter (2.5 kg/ha) + PSB (2.5 kg/ha) + KSB (2.5 kg/ha) + 80 % recommended dose of NPK) was produced maximum plant height (64.24 cm) and shows minimum days to fruit harvesting (67.16). The yield parameters like fruit weight (62.33 g), number of fruits per plant (25.66), fruit yield per plant (1.43 kg), fruit yield per plot (28.69 kg) and fruit yield per hectare (425.11 q) recorded highest in treatment P1N4 (seeds pelleted with zinc sulphate + application of Azotobacter (2.5 kg/ha) + PSB (2.5 kg/ha) + KSB (2.5 kg/ha) + 80 % recommended dose of NPK)