Comparative Evaluation of Organic and Inorganic Manure on Sweet Pepper Performance in Two Ecological Zones of Nigeria

Organic (poultry manure) and inorganic (Urea) fertilizers were comparatively studied with the aim of improving the performance of sweet pepper, Capsicum annum (called ‘Tatase’ in Nigeria) in two ecological zones of Nigeria (Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state and Omu-Aran, Kwara State). Poultry manure applied at the rate of 8ton ha-1 gave higher fruit yield than urea at the rate of 0.2ton ha-1 twice equally at two weeks after transplanting (WAT) and at fruiting. Although higher leaf number and branches were produced in the plots that received inorganic fertilizer, the yield produced was lower.

It is indicative from this study that pepper can be successfully produced organically using poultry manure in the two ecological zones under study. It also suggests that our soils can be protected from the level of acidity associated with synthetic fertilizer use. Pepper fruits produced from such will be purely organic and safer for human consumption.