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Archives (2004)

Bringing out the best in Bontoc pepper by Ma. Lizbeth Baroña

April-June 2004 Volume 6 No. 2

Bontoc pepper, a vegetable scientifically known as Capsicum annum, adapts and grows well in Ilocos Norte and has high profit potential. However, farmers have been growing this crop on their own without following any existing package of technology and management. The application of high rates of fertilizer and weekly flooding - following the traditional farmer's practices - cause nitrogen deficiency through leaching, which in turn, would contaminate the groundwater source. The crop's ability to reach its optimum yield potential is also in question.

Researchers headed by Dionisio S. Bucao at the Mariano Marcos State University(MMSU) evaluated the response of Bontoc pepper, grown after lowland rice, to water and nitrogen management.

Capsicum annum
Pepper (Capsicum) belongs to the “night shade family”, the Solanaceae. It is extensively cultivated throughout tropical Asia and equatorial America for its edible, pungent fruits. Capsicum comprises all the varied forms of fleshy-fruited peppers grown as herbaceous annuals - the red, green, and yellow pepper, which are rich in vitamins A and C. They can be used as seasoning and as vegetable. Capsicum includes paprika, chili pepper, red pepper (cayenne), and bell pepper. Bell pepper, to which Bontoc pepper is identified with - is considered and eaten as a vegetable. The pungency of pepper, along with its color makes it a valuable culinary commodity.

Testing
A rainfed area in Batac, Ilocos Norte, which was previously grown to rice during the preceding wet season, was the site of the experiment. The soil is a Vertisol, classified under the San Fernando series. It has a clayey texture, and is gray to black in the surface, and dark gray to black underneath. The soil's nitrogen content is low, has adequate exchangeable potassium, and has medium amount of phosphorus and organic matter.

The experiments tested different irrigation depths at 20,30,40, and 50 mm, and done after 7,11, and 15 days at nitrogen levels of 0,70,140, and 210 kg of nitrogen(N) per ha-1 . The treatments were replicated three times. All plots with seedlings transplanted at 40cm x 60cm were irrigated uniformly after transplanting. Irrigation started at 35 days after transplanting(DAT). Effects of the treatment were evaluated using these parameters: weekly soil moisture status, consumptive use, efficiency of using water and nitrogen, growth and yield, and net income.

Results
The researchers observed that depth and frequency of irrigation and nitrogen level affected plant vigor. The plants irrigated at depths of 30,40, and 50mm were more vigorous than those irrigated at 20mm. Increasing the nitrogen level in the soil also elicited positive response from the plant. But the effect of the N level is affected by its combination with frequency of irrigation.

However, the plants responded to the changes in N level. Plants fertilized with 210 kg and 140 kg of N grew 63.59 cm and 61.28 cm, respectively while untreated plants were only 46.85 cm. The last harvest showed significant effects from irrigation treatments and N level. Plants treated with 210 kg of N were the tallest compared to those applied with 140, and 70 kg of N in decreasing order. The plants irrigated with 40mm and 50mm were significantly taller than those irrigated at 30mm and 20mm depths.

Results showed that optimum growth happened when the crops were fertilized with 210 kg N/ha, and irrigated at 40mm depth.

Yield also increased with an increasing level of N applied, regardless of the depth and frequency of irrigation. Yield is also affected by inadequate soil moisture: it is reduced by too much, or too little moisture. Inadequate moisture causes stress and tension in the plant resulting to low yield.

Adding more N fertilizer does not always result to a higher yield. This is because high soil moisture and frequent irrigation cause N leaching.

The recommendations generated in the study is a “shot in the arm” for the pepper industry for they will supplement the indigenous practices of Ilocano farmers in bringing out the best in Bontoc pepper.

Sources:
“ Response of Bontoc pepper (Capsicum annum L.) grown after rice to depth and frequency of irrigation and N level”, Dionisio S. Bucao, Epifania O. Agustin, Artemio B. Alcoy, Charito G. Acosta, Mariano Marcos State University
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