Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture

TCP3 Technoguide for Bell Pepper Production in Ilocos

Contributed by JICA TCP 3 Ilocos Norte Thursday, 11 September 2008 Last Updated Tuesday, 18 August 2009

I.

Introduction

Pepper, Capsicum annuum L., locally known as sili, is mainly used as an ingredient in many food preparations. It is a good source of various beneficial phytochemicals that are essential in human vision and in the prevention breast cancer, and powerful antioxidants that reduce the risk of heart disease. Bell pepper is identified as one of the priority crops in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. In 2004, about 250 ha was planted with the crop in the two provinces. This translates to roughly 1500 MT production. At the national level, production increased from 9,566 MT in 1999 to 11,614 MT in 2006. II. Varieties

Choose a variety that is high-yielding, tolerant to insect pests and diseases, adapted to local climatic conditions, and is easy-to-sell. There are many outstanding varieties that have been developed by local seed companies. Bless F1 is the only new variety tested under Cabugao, Ilocos Sur condition. It has true conical fruits with smooth and shiny skin that are dark green when immature and bright red when ripe. Bless F1 produces firm fruits that are excellent for shipping and have a longer shelf life than the existing farmers’ varieties.

For off-season or early planting, Bless F1 is more preferred because it matures early and has higher yield than the recycled seeds.

III.

Land Preparation

Plow and harrow the field twice to help eliminate weeds, hibernating insect pests, and soil-borne diseases. The best time to plow the field is when a ball does not form when the soil is squeezed by hand and only a thin film of the soil sticks to the fingers and palm. Plow at a depth of 15-20 cm. A well-prepared soil promotes good soil aeration and enhances root formation especially that bell peppers are fairly shallow-rooted and have low tolerance to drought or flooding. IV. Raising Seedlings

The seedlings are raised in two ways - in seedbeds or in cell trays. Since the seeds of bell pepper are very light, the seeds sown in the seedbeds can be easily carried away or eaten by ants. The seedlings raised in seedbeds are also exposed to adverse conditions. Raising seedlings in trays has many advantages. It requires less seeds, produces superior seedlings with uniform growth, and minimizes transplanting shock and seedling mortality. It also requires less labor for seedling care and maintenance. Here’s how to raise seedlings in plastic trays. a) Preparing the sowing materials: (1) Prepare the sowing medium using the following proportion: • 1 part commercial organic fertilizer (COF)
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• •

4 parts carbonized rice hull (CRH) 2 parts rice straw compost

(2)

Combine all the sowing materials

It is important to thoroughly mix the sowing materials. This cannot be attained if the compost used is very dry. The denser commercial organic fertilizer also has a tendency of staying at the bottom of the mixture. A partially mixed sowing materials results to lower germination of seeds planted to cells with higher organic fertilizer concentration because the fertilizer is hot. To facilitate mixing, lightly wet the sowing materials using a sprinkler. The sowing materials can be mixed by hand when preparing only a small amount. Use a garden shovel when mixing a relatively large volume of sowing medium.

(3)

Fill holes of the tray with the medium and slightly compact it using your palm

Use seedling trays with 100 or 104 holes. The volume of the medium in each hole contains enough nutrients to sustain the seedling until transplanting time.

b) Sowing: A 1000 m2 area (a tenth of a hectare) requires 18 g of seeds. One gram (g) is approximately 133 seeds. (1) Make a hole about 1.0 cm deep at the center of the medium in each cell. Sow one seed per hole.

(2) Cover the seeds with the medium. (3) Water the seeds using a sprinkler with fine droplets. (4) Cover the trays with rice straw, plastic sack, or old newspaper to maintain soil moisture and temperature necessary for seed germination. (5) Place the trays on the platforms of a simple nursery. Remove the cover as soon as 1 or 2 seeds have sprouted to prevent seedling elongation. c) Caring for and maintaining the seedlings: The nursery minimizes exposure of the seedlings to extreme weather and protects them from stray animals. (1) Roof the nursery with transparent plastic sheets during the rainy season, and plastic nets or chicken wire during the dry season so that the seedlings can take full advantage of sunlight. Seedlings elongate abnormally when put under the shade.

(2) Bell pepper seeds germinate within 7-8 days under 25oC to 30oC temperature. During colder days in January and February, however, germination takes 10 days or more. (3) Water early in the morning and early in the afternoon. Apply less water during rainy or cloudy days. The seedlings weaken and elongate with too much water.

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V.

Construction of Planting Furrows

Construct planting furrows 1.0 m apart. The furrows will facilitate irrigation. VI. Fertilizer Application

Collect soil samples for analysis at the nearest soils laboratory. Apply fertilizers based on the results of the analysis. Otherwise, use the following recommended rates: Basal Apply 0.5 kg of any commercial organic fertilizer and 0.4 kg ammonium phosphate (16-20-0) for every 10 linear meters of the planting furrows.

Sidedress Dibble the first sidedress fertilizer 8-10 cm from the base of the plant. Succeeding applications can either be dibbled at midpoint (25 cm) between plants along the rows, or distributed evenly in a shallow furrow roughly 20 cm away from the base of the plant. Follow this recommended schedule, source and amount of fertilizers to be applied:

Time of Application Amount of Fertilizer 3 weeks after transplanting (WAT) 6 g (0.4 tbsp) 46-00/hill and 0.3 g 0-0-60/hill; or 120 g (8 tbsp) 46-0-0/10 linear meters and 60 g (5.2 tbsp) 0-0-60/10 linear meter 9 WAT 6 g (0.4 tbsp) 46-0-0/hill; or 120 g (8 tbsp) 46-0-0/10 linear meters 6 and 12 WAT 3 g 0-060/hill; or 60 g (5.2 tbsp) 0-0-60/10 linear meters 15 WAT 8 g (1/3 tbsp)14-14-14/hill; or 160 g 1414-14/10 linear meters

VIII.

Transplanting

(1) Irrigate the furrows to dissolve the fertilizers applied and minimize direct contact of the seedling roots with the basal fertilizers applied. (2) To facilitate transplanting, construct holes about 3 cm deep spaced 50 cm apart by dibbling along the furrows.

(3) To ease pulling, water the seedlings one hour before taking them out of the trays. Dislodge the seedlings from the plastic trays carefully so that the root system and the seedling medium come out of the cells intact. Place them in a pail or any container that can be conveniently brought to the field. This minimizes damage to the plastic trays and prolongs their usability.

(4) (5)

Transplant 30 to 35 day-old seedlings, which should now have 4-5 true leaves. Transplant one seedling per hill, preferably in the afternoon.

A 1000 m2 area (a 10th of a hectare) requires 2000 seedlings (1 seedling per hill spaced at 0.5m between hills and 1.0m between rows). (6) IX. Water the transplants immediately to establish good root-to-soil contact. Irrigation

During the dry season, irrigate at 7 DAT and every week thereafter in alternate furrows. Irrigate after every fertilizer application.
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X.

Weeding

Manage weeds by off-barring at 14 DAT and by hilling-up at 21 DAT. For minimum to moderate weed infestation, spot weeding will suffice.

XI. Insect Pests and Diseases, and their Management 1. Sucking insect pests like aphids and thrips are abundant during hot months, or when irrigation is delayed.

To avoid or minimize their infestation, plant early in the season and maintain enough moisture in the soil. Spray chillisoap solution two weeks after transplanting to make the leaves waxy. When spraying insecticide, aim the sprayer nozzle at the underside of leaves where the pests are located and read carefully the label for further instructions.

2.

Sunscald

Sunscald appears on fruits of Bless F1 and also on farmers’ varieties. The sunscald damage on fruits usually has no disease-causing microorganisms. The problem although minimal can be managed by more frequent (weekly) irrigation at moderate amount to maintain cool temperature within the plants’ canopy.

3. Virus Disease Symptoms of virus disease infection in pepper are leaf curling, stunted growth and reduced yield. The disease is transmitted by insect vectors such as whitefly and aphids. Mechanical transmission is also possible through contaminated farm implements and smoking in the field. The viruses in lighted cigarettes are not killed by processing. The disease can be managed by using resistant varieties, controlling insect vectors and avoidance of late planting.

4.

Fungal disease

Fungal infection in bell pepper begins at the seedbed. Symptoms include small spots on leaves, rotting of stem at the soil line, and eventually wilting of the whole plant.

In Cabugao, a damping off pathogen, Sclerotium sp. was isolated from stems of bell pepper with fungal growths. Sclerotium sp. is soil-borne. The growth of damping-off pathogens at the seedbed is favored by high seeding rate and too much watering. At the field, overcrowding due to high nitrogen fertilization and uncontrolled flooding contribute to disease development. Applying inorganic fertilizers very near the stem or roots causes injury to the plant. The injury serves as the entry point of plant pathogens which will develop into a disease.
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Manage fungal pathogens by selecting a seedbed area which is not contaminated. Transplant only healthy seedlings with no spots on the leaves and injuries on the roots. Apply the recommended amount of fertilizer at the right time. Do not flood the field during irrigation.

XII.

Harvest and Post-harvest Handling

Bell pepper fruits are harvested when they are at breaker stage i.e. they have reached full size, become firm, and have not turned red. Harvesting starts at 60 DAT. Harvest twice a week preferably early in the morning when there is less transpiration and moisture loss from the fruits. Protect them from the sun, rain, and mechanical damage. Bell pepper fruits should be kept under the shade right after picking. Sort fruits according to market standards. Pack fruits in plastic bags. Prick the bags with a pin for ventilation. Allot 2 pricks per kilogram of packed fruits. For Bless F1, the fruits can be stored up to five days under this condition and freshness is still maintained.

Checklist for Cultural Management of Bell Pepper without Mulch Check Practice Recommendation Raising Seedlings Variety Bless F1 Seeding rate 133 seeds/g: 2394 seeds=18g Plastic tray 100 or 104 holes; 24 trays for 1000 m2 Medium for trays CRH : compost : commercial organic fertilizer = 4:2:1, or own materials Preparation for Transplanting Ridge/Furrow 1.0 m between ridge or furrow Basal fertilizer Commercial organic fertilizer = 0.5kg; 16-20-0 = 0.4 kg/10m Transplanting Seedling age 30-35 days from sowing, 4-5 true leaves Seedling/hill (no.) One seedling/hill Plant distance 0.5m between hills, 1.0m between rows 2000 hills/1000 m2 Sidedress fertilizer Sidedressing 1 6 g (0.4 tbsp) 46-0-0/hill and 0.3 g 0-0-60/hill; or 120 g (8 tbsp) 46-0-0/10 linear meters and 60 g (5.2 tbsp) 0-0-60/10 linear meter at 3 weeks after transplanting (WAT) Sidedressing 2 3 g 0-0-60/hill; or 60 g (5.2 tbsp) 0-0-60/10 linear meters at 6 WAT Sidedressing 3 6 g (0.4 tbsp) 46-0-0/hill or 120 g (8 tbsp) 46-00/10 linear meters at 9 WAT Sidedressing 4 3 g 0-0-60/hill; or 60 g (5.2 tbsp) 0-0-60/10 linear meters at 12 WAT Sidedressing 5 8 g (1/3 tbsp)14-14-14/hill; or 160 g 14-14-14/10 linear meters at 15 WAT Irrigation Irrigate every 7 days (depending on weather condition) Irrigate after each application of fertilizer Pest Management Follow the technical manual Plant early in the season using high quality seeds Avoid early application of chemical insecticides to allow build up of natural enemies Avoid disease-contaminated seedbed Avoid excessive fertilization and flooding Harvesting Start at 60 days after transplanting at breaker stage of fruits Harvesting period about 4 months or more

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