Effect of Different Biostimulants on Growth, Yield and Quality of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) under Prayagraj Agro Climatic Conditions

An experiment was carried out to study the “Effect of different biostimulants on growth, yield and quality of chilli (Capsicum annuum L) under prayagraj agro climatic conditions” during August, 2022 to January 2023 at Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agriculture Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences. The experiment had eleven treatments replicated thrice in a randomized block design. It was concluded that the application of biostimulants treatments rendered their significant effect on almost all the growth and yield characters as well as quality of chilli. Treatments were given with concentrations of biostimulant products such as Escort @ 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 ml per litre, Cheetha @ 2, 2.5 and 3 ml per litre and Baanam @ 2, 2.5 and 3 ml per litre at 45 ,60 and 75 days after transplanting whereas water was sprayed on control plants. The treatment T7 i.e. application of biostimulant product Cheetha @ 3 ml/l was found superior in terms of plant height (64.39 cm), plant spread (61.5cm), number of branches (8.11), number of flowers per cluster (11.77), number of fruits per plant (79.33), fruit length (12.77cm), fruit girth (2.47cm), fruit weight(4.29g), fruit yield per plant(395.67g), fruit yield per plot(2.37 kg), fruit yield per hectare (14.67t/ha) ,Total Soluble Solids (oBrix) (4.97),Ascorbic acid content (144.67 mg/100g) and minimum days taken for first flowering (51.67 days) and for 50% flowering(56.67 days). Among the different treatments, the highest Gross return (Rs/ha) (2,93,000), Net return (Rs/ha) (1,67,137), benefit cost ratio (2.32) was also obtained from treatment (T7), that is Cheetha @ 3 ml/l.