INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT GROWTH MEDIA ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF HABANERO-TYPE PEPPER (CAPSICUM CHINENSE JACQ)

Habanero type pepper (Capsicum chinense) is a berry fruit of the Capsicum family Solanaceae. It grows naturally in temperate, subtropical, and tropical parts of the world and it is of immense importance in culinary and other uses. This study attempted to employ application of some inorganic fertilizers (Urea and NPK) to improve the growth and yield of capsicum frutescens under three different growth media. The seeds were obtained from an open market in Akungba town and the soil samples were collected within the university premises and analyzed by considering the parameters such as; pH, organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases (K, Ca, Mg, Na), exchangeable acidity, cation exchange capacity, percentage based saturation and effective cation exchange capacity. Inorganic fertilizer application commenced sixth week after sowing. The growth parameters assessed during the experiment include; plant height, leaf count, number of branches, collar girth and leaf area. The data collected were subjected to Statistical Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) which revealed that there were significant differences (P≤0.05) among the treatments. Treatment B = (Sandy loam + Capsicum chinense + urea) had the highest mean value followed by treatment A = Sandy loam + Capsicum chinense (control) and treatment C = Sandy loam + Capsicum chinense + NPK 15:15:15 which had the least morphological growth parameters assessed. Thus, Urea and NPK fertilizers could be employed in the production of C. chinense.