Capsicum- Sweet pepper/Bell pepper
Botanical Name- Capsicum annuum
Family - Solanaceae

• It is a valuable vegetable crop which is grown in green house or in shade net houses.
• It is also known as “Sweet pepper” or “bell pepper”.
• Capsicums are the rich source of minerals and Vitamins A and C.
• It is a perennial herbaceous plant which belongs to the family of Solanaceae.
• It attains the height of 75 cm.
• It has small flowers which are white or purple in color which bears fruits.

1) Bomby (red color):

• It is an early maturing variety.
• This variety has tall and strong plant having good branching.
• It requires adequate shelter for fruit development.
• It contains dark green color fruits which become red at the time of maturity having an average weight of 130-150 gm.
• It has longer shelf life and can be ideal for long distance transportation.

2) Orobelle (yellow color):

• It is grown in mainly cold climate.
• The fruits are almost square in shape having medium-thick wall.
• The fruits become yellow at the time of maturity having an average weight of 150 gm.
• It is disease resistant variety which can be grown in open field and in greenhouses.

3) Indra (green):

• This variety has tall and bushy appearance.
• It has dark green color leaves having dense foliage.
• Fruits are dark green in color with an average weight of 170 gm.
• Fruit development starts after 50-55 days of sowing.
• It is ideal for long distance transportation and has longer shelf life.
• Indra:The fruits are dark green in color. It gives an average yield of 110qtl/acre. The average weight of fruit id 80gm.  

Other state variety:

California Wonder, Chinese Giant, World Beater, Yolo Wonder Bharat, ArkaMohini, ArkaGaurav, ArkaBasant, Early Giant. Bullnose, King of North, Ruby King, etc. are the important varieties of capsicum grown in India. 

• Avoid the location or area where heavy rains accompanied with gusty winds are prevalent to avoid damage to the protected structure.
• Well-drained sandy loam soils having good percolation is most suitable to grow capsicum.

• Seeds are mainly sown in the end of the October month and transplanting is done in mid-February.
• For early yield, seeds are sown in the mid-October month and transplanting is done in end November.

• For capsicum farming, nursery beds are raised firstly.
• Seed beds of 300 x 60 x 15cm are prepared to raise seedlings.
• Seeds are sown in raised nursery beds and after sowing cover the nursery beds with thin layer of soil manure.
• Light irrigation is necessary after sowing the seeds in raising beds for optimum germination of seeds.
• Transplanting is done when seedlings attain 4-5 leaves.
• Transplanting is done in prepared fields.
• Transplanting is mainly done in evening during cloudy weather.
• Mainly 50-60 old seedlings are used for transplanting.
• Apply water to the nursery beds before transplanting so that seedling can be easily uprooted.

•  Prepare the nursery area of 3 cents with slanting slope of 2 % for the seedling production to cover 1 ha.
• Cover the nursery area with 50 % shade net and cover the sides using 40/50 mesh insect proof nylon net.
•  Form raised beds of 1 m width and convenient length and place HDPV pipes at 2m interval for further protection with polythene sheets during rainy months.
• Mix sterilized cocopeat @ 300 kg with 5 kg neem cake along with Azospirillum and phosphobacteria each @ 1 kg. Approximately 1.2 kg of cocopeat is required for filling
• one protray. 238 protrays (98 cells) are required for the production of 23,324 seedlings, which are required for one hectare adopting a spacing of 90 x 60 x 60 cm in a paired row system.
• Sow the treated seeds in protrays @ 1 seed per cell.
• Cover the seeds with cocopeat and keep the trays one above the other and cover with a polythene sheet till germination starts.
• After 6 days, place the protrays with germinated seeds individually on the raised beds inside the shade net.
• Water with rose-can every day and drench with 19:19:19 @ 0.5% (5g/l) at 18 days after sowing.

• For capsicum plantation, fields should be well prepared.
• To bring the soil to fine tilth, 5-6 ploughings followed by planking’s must be done.
• At the time of land preparation FYM (Farm Yard Manure) or compost is mixed with the soil.

Soil –

• It requires an ideal soil temperature between 18-35°C.
• It is grown in all type of soils ranging from clayey to loamy soil.
• It can also withstand in acidic soil to some extent.
• It gives best result when grown under sandy loam soil having high fertility and good drainage system.
• It requires pH ranging from 6-7 is best for capsicum.

Climate – 

• Capsicum prefers moderately low temperatures and dry season.
• Seed germinates best at the temperature range from 20 to 25 C 
• Grows best at 18 – 25◦C. average daily temperatures
•  20 to 25◦C are optimum for fruit setting.

Spacing:    
Use row to row spacing of 50 cm and plant to plant spacing of 40 cm.

Sowing depth:
Depth should be 2-4 cm.

Method of sowing:
Low tunnel technology: 

• This technology is used to produce early yield of capsicum in early summer.
• It helps to protect the crop from cold season i.e. in the month of December to mid-February.
• Beds of 2.5 m width are sown in the month of December.
• Use row to row spacing of 130 cm and line to line spacing of 30 cm for seedling sowing.
• Before sowing supportive rods of 45-60 cm length are fixed in the soil.
• Cover the field with plastic sheet (100 gauge thickness) with the help of support rods.
• Plastic sheet should be removed mainly in the month of February when temperature is suitable outside.

•    Dibbling method
 

• For good yield of crop, weeding must be done at proper intervals.
• Earthing up after 2-3 weeks of transplanting will help to remove weeds from the fields.
• First weeding is done after 30 days of transplanting then second weeding is done after 60 days of transplanting. 

•  Apply FYM @ 25 t / ha as basal before last ploughing.
• Apply 2 kg/ha of Azospirillum and 2 kg/ha of Phosphobacteria by mixing with 20 kg of FYM.
• Apply 75 % total recommended dose of super phosphate i.e. 703 kg / ha as basal.
• Install the drip irrigation with main and sub main pipes and place lateral tubes at an interval of 1.5 m.
• Place the drippers in lateral tubes at an interval of 60 cm and 50 cm spacing with 4 LPH and 3.5 LPH capacities respectively.
•  Form raised beds of 120 cm width at an interval of 30 cm and place the laterals at the centre of the each bed.
• Before planting, wet the beds using drip system for 8-12 hrs.
• Planting to be done at a spacing of 90 x 60 x 60 cm in the paired row system, using ropes marked at 60 cm spacing.
• Spray Pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i. /ha or Fluchloralin 1.0 kg a.i/ha as pre-emergence herbicide at 3rd day after planting.
•  Gap filling to be done at 7th day after transplanting.

• For good yield of crop, weeding must be done at proper intervals.
• Earthing up after 2-3 weeks of transplanting will help to remove weeds from the fields.
• First weeding is done after 30 days of transplanting then second weeding is done after 60 days of transplanting. 

• Light irrigation is given immediately after seed sowing.
• Then next irrigation is given immediately after transplanting, and then later irrigation is given when requires.
• In arid and semi-arid regions irrigation is required at proper intervals.

• Spray 1.25 ppm Triacontanol (12.5 mg /10 l of water) on 20th, 40th, 60th and 80th day after transplanting.
• Spray NAA 10 ppm (10 mg/l of water) on 60 and 90 days after planting.

Capsicum farming mainly gives an average yield of 40-50 qtl/acre.