Effect of NPS and Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Rates for Small Pod Hot Pepper Production (Capsicum annuum L.) Variety at Kellem and West Wollega Zones

Background: Small pod hot pepper is grown as an annual crop and produced for its fruits. It is one of the most important vegetable crops for fresh consumption, for processing and as a spice (for making stew). The current study aimed to identify the response of different NPS and N fertilizer rates on growth, yield and yield components of small pod hot pepper production in West and Kellem Wollega zones and to determine the optimum and appropriate application rates of NPS and N fertilizer in the study area. Methods: A field experiment was conducted at HaroSabu Agricultural Research Center on station, Sedi Canqa and Lalo Qile sub sites of Kellem Wollega zone, Western Ethiopia, during the 2020 and 2021 main cropping seasons. Thirteen fertilizer combinations were used as experimental materials. Result: The combined analysis of variance for total yield and other agronomic traits revealed highly significant differences in, plant height, plant canopy length, number of pods per plant and total dry pod yield; whereas days to flowering, days to maturity, number of primary branches per plant, pod length, pod diameter and pod weight revealed non-significant effect. In this experimentation, the combination of 150 kg/ha NPSand 150 kg/ha N(urea) fertilizer rate was found superior in terms of economic yield (marketable yield), and yield component parameters. The marginal rate of return also directed the highest net benefit from the combined fertilizer rate of 150 kg/ha NPS and 150 kg/ha N(urea). Thus the combined fertilizer rate of 150 kg/ha NPS and 150 kg/ha N(urea) is recommended for the yield increment of small pod hot pepper in the studied areas of Western Oromia.