Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
After completing this lesson, you have learned to
answer:
1. Describe the practiced systems of chili pepper
sowing?
2. Which system of chili pepper sowing you
recommend and why?
3. What are the different methods followed in chili
pepper sowing?
4. What are the implements used in chili pepper
sowing?
5. What criteria should be followed in determining the
amount seed required for sowing?
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
After completing this lesson, you have learned to
answer:
6. What plant populations are recommended, for chili
pepper cultivation?
7. What are the steps involved in estimating the
required seed to establish a given plant stand?
8. How do you determine the spacing to be followed in
chili pepper cultivation?
9. How do you determine the suitable conditions for
carrying out chili pepper sowing in your field?
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Three systems of chili pepper sowing are followed:
• sowing on a flat surface,
• sowing on a ridge system,
• sowing on a broadbed system.
Sowing on flat surface
Ridge system
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
When seeds are sown using ridge the seeds are either
sown on the side or top of the ridge.
Planting on the side or top of
the ride is practiced in heavy
rainfall areas and under
irrigated conditions.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
The broadbed system has an advantage over flat sowing in
• draining off excess water,
• providing more soil aeration for plant growth,
• greater in-situ moisture conservation.
• easier for weeding and mechanical harvesting.
Broad-bed
BB sown crop
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
The seeds are sown either by
•
sowing by broadcasting seed manually,
•
Sowing behind country plough using pora,
•
•
Using an improved seed drill which may or may not be
fitted with hoppers for fertilizer application,
Using mechanical seed drills attached to a tractor.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Manual sowing by broadcasting the seed is
practiced when the area to be sown is small.
After broadcasting, the seeds are covered by
running a brush harrow.
The germination my not be uniform in hand sowing,
and so one has to use a higher seed rate to get the
optimum plant stand in the field.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
The best method is to sow the
hardened seeds of chili pepper at 3/4
inch depth with seed cum fertilizer
drill to ensure uniform depth of
sowing and fertilizer application
before the onset of monsoon as
detailed
Seed cum fertilizer drill
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Seed rate
The amount of seed required per unit area depends on:
•
Optimum plant stand required per unit area
•
Plant type i.e. tall or short plants
•
Weight of seed
•
Quality of seed in terms of germination.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Seed rate
Seed rate should be determined based on the optimum
number of plants required in unit area (acre or hectare
or sq ft or sq m) for good yields.
The optimum plant population for chili pepper can vary
between 150,000 to 180,000 plants/acre.
If the plant population is on the higher side of 180,000
plants, the reduced panicle and fruit size is
compensated by the higher number of fruits per unit
area.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Seed rate
The recommended plant stand for chili pepper under
normal conditions is 160,000 plants per acre.
Under irrigation or high levels of management on highly
productive soils, a population of 180,000 plants/acre is
recommended.
On extremely sandy, droughty soils, a population of
about 140,000 plants/acre is desirable.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Seed rate
For rabi crop, the optimum population should be
between 150,000 - 180,000 plants/ac.
In case the soil moisture is low, it is advisable that the
population should be 120,000 per acre and when the
moisture is optimum the plant population should be
150,000 plants/ac.
Under irrigated conditions for summer crop, the
optimum plant population should be 180,000 plants/ac.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Estimation of seed quantity per hectare:
Given: Chili pepper seed with 75% germination, 100-seed mass
of 1 g, and the required plant population is 180,000 plants per
acre.
Step 1
Since the germination percentage is 75, we need to adjust for
this deficiency.
Number of seeds needed to get 100 seedlings
100 x 100
------------ = 134 seeds
75
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Estimation of seed quantity per hectare:
Step 2
To get 100 seedlings, 134 seeds are required, then,
the number of seeds required for 180,000 plants:
180,000 x 134
----------------- = 241200 seeds
100
Thus, 241200 seeds are needed to establish 180,000
plants per acre.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Estimation of seed quantity per acre:
Step 3
The quantity of seeds(seed rate) required for 201,000 seeds,
based on 100 seeds weight of 3 g.
241200 x 1 g
------------------ = 2412 g or 5.3 Ib
100 seeds
Thus, 5.3 Ib of seeds are needed per acre to establish 180,000
plants per acre.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Estimation of seed quantity per acre:
If germination % of seeds is not known, then the seed rate is
determined by adding additional 20% of seeds to cover any
seed germination problems.
Example: Given: Chili pepper 100-seed mass of 1 g, and the
required plant population is 180,000 plants per acre.
Step 1
Based on 100 seed mass of 1 g
1 g X 180,000 plants
------------------------- = 1800 g or 3.96 Ib
100 seeds
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Estimation of seed quantity per acre:
If germination % of seeds is not known, then the seed rate is
determined by adding additional 20% of seeds.
Step 2
Based on 20% more seed requirement for any
germination problem i.e 120% required
seed
120 X 3.96 Ib
--------------------- = 4.7 Ib of seed
100
Thus, 4.7 Ib of seeds are needed per acre to take care of any
seed problem and to establish 180,00 plants per acre.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Seed rate
The seed rate varies from 4 to 6 Ib/ac. But the
weight of seed planted is not a good measure of
population since seed weight varies considerably
i.e. 1 to 1.3 g per 100 seeds among various hybrids
and improved varieties.
Establishing optimum plant population in unit area
is more important than the seed rate.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Sowing distance
The distance between row to row of plants, and
plant to plant within a row can be varied
depending on the method of sowing.
However it should be remembered that the
sowing distance determines the optimum plant
stand requirement.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Sowing distance
In general, if ridges are formed 55 cm apart, then the
plants should be 45 cm apart within a row.
If broad bed and furrow method is adopted, then the
plant rows will be 65 cm apart on the bed and the
distance between plants should be 40 cm to get the
optimum population
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Sowing time
The sowing time of chili pepper is important aspect in
increasing the crop yield.
This sowing time is also related with soil moisture
and soil temperature, as well as incidence of shoot fly.
The winter season crop (Rabi) should be sown
immediately after commencement of monsoon and
after having adequate moisture in the soil.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Sowing time
The sowing should be completed before 15 th Sept in
Asaia.
Early sowing helps in minimum incidence of shoot fly
and less damage to the crop.
Delayed sowing after first week of September results
in reduction of yield due to heavy attack of shoot fly.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Sowing time
The seeds should be sown when there is
moisture in the soil up to a depth of 1 to 2 cm.
If irrigation facility is available, irrigating the field
for sowing just before the onset of rainy season
and thus advancing the sowing substantially
increases chili pepper yield.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
Sowing time
Rabi crop is sown between 15 September and 15
October.
Late sowing beyond October may result in poor
germination and plant stand due to low soil
temperatures. Also, further growth of chili plants
will be slowed down at low temperatures.
Module VIII: Seeds and Sowing
Lesson 3: Sowing of Chili Pepper
With this, the Lesson 3 on Chili pepper Sowing
Practices, and also this Module on Seeds and
Sowing of chili pepper concludes.