Capsicum, commonly known as bell pepper or sweet pepper, is a popular vegetable crop in India. Known for its vibrant colors and rich nutritional value, capsicum is cultivated extensively across the country. This guide provides a detailed overview of capsicum cultivation, from sowing to harvesting, to help farmers achieve high yields and superior-quality produce.
Capsicum Crop at a Glance
Biological Name
The biological name of capsicum is Capsicum Annuum. It belongs to the Solanaceae family, including tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants.
Cropping Season
Capsicum can be grown throughout the year under protected cultivation, but the main seasons are the summer (March to June) and the winter (October to February).
Crop Type
Capsicum is an annual crop that produces bell-shaped fruits. It is grown for its edible fruits, which come in various colors such as green, red, yellow, and orange.
Production and Consumption
Capsicum is widely cultivated in India, with major production in states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh. It is consumed both fresh and cooked in various dishes, salads, and processed products.
Export
India exports capsicum to several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East, where it is highly valued for its taste and nutritional benefits.
Types of Capsicum in India
Several varieties of capsicum are cultivated in India, each with unique characteristics:
Green Capsicum (Shimla Mirch): Green capsicum is the most commonly grown variety in India. It is harvested before it ripens fully, which is why it retains its green color. It has a slightly bitter taste and is often used in salads, stir-fries, and curries.
Red Capsicum: This variety is harvested when fully ripe, giving it a vibrant red color. It is sweeter compared to green capsicum. Red capsicum has a sweet and slightly fruity taste, making it popular in salads, salsas, and roasted dishes.
Yellow Capsicum: Yellow capsicum is another fully ripened variety. It is harvested at the same stage as red capsicum but from a different cultivar. It offers a sweet and mild flavor, often used to add color and taste to various dishes like salads, pizzas, and pasta.
Orange Capsicum: Less common than the other varieties, orange capsicum is another fully ripened type with a distinct color. It has a sweet, tangy flavor and is used in gourmet dishes, salads, and stir-fries for its unique taste and color.
Purple Capsicum: This exotic variety is less commonly found and cultivated in India. It is known for its striking purple color. It has a slightly sweet taste and is used in specialty dishes and salads.
Miniature Capsicum: These are smaller versions of the standard capsicum, available in various colors like red, yellow, and orange. They offer a sweet taste and are often used as garnish, in gourmet dishes, and for snacking.
Required Climatic Conditions
Capsicum thrives in mild climates with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 30°C. It is sensitive to frost and extreme heat, making it suitable for Bell pepper cultivation in regions with moderate temperatures.
Soil Requirement
Capsicum prefers well-drained, fertile soils rich in organic matter. Sandy loam and loamy soils with a pH range of 6.0 to 6.8 are ideal. Good soil aeration is crucial for the healthy growth of capsicum plants.
Growing Season
In India, the capsicum growing season in India spans multiple periods: the wet season from May to August, the spring/winter season from October to December, and the summer season from February to March.
Land Preparation
Prepare the land by ploughing once or twice, depending on the soil type. Mix 5 tons of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and 3 Liter of composting bacteria in the field, allowing it to decompose in open air for 10 days. Spread this mixture evenly over the soil and use a rotavator to achieve a fine tilth throughout the field. Prepare raised beds, 140 cm wide bed preparation, by using a tractor.
Sowing
Seed Rate
The recommended seed rate for capsicum is 200-250 grams per hectare. Capsicum Seeds should be sown in well-prepared nursery beds or trays.
Variety
Choosing the right variety is crucial for maximizing yield. Popular varieties include Syngenta Indra, Sarpan Tambi, Kedar and Krishna.
Seed Treatment
For effective seed treatment, use Thiamethoxam 30% FS at 10 ml / kg seed to protect against sucking pests. Combine with Carbendazim 50% WP at 3 gm / kg seed to prevent fungal diseases. This dual treatment ensures healthier germination and robust plant growth.
Nursery
- Fill the trays with cocopeat at a rate of 1.2 kg per tray.
- Sow the treated seeds in the trays, using one seed per cell.
- Cover the seeds with cocopeat, stack the trays, and cover them with a polythene sheet for about 5 days until germination begins.
- After 6 days, place the trays with germinated seeds on raised beds inside a shade net.
- Spray M-45 or Carbendazim + Mancozeb at 2 grams per liter of water at 7, 15, and 25 days after placing on the raised beds.
- Drench with a solution of 19:19:19 fertilizer at 2 grams per liter + Carbendazim 50 WP (Bavistin) at 2 grams per liter of water at 10 and 20 days after placing on the raised beds.
Root Dip Treatment
Fill a flat container with 20 liters of water. Add 40 gm of Carbendazim 50 WP and 20 ml of Imidacloprid 17.8 SL to the water. Submerge the plant roots in this solution for 5 minutes before transplanting. For plants in pro trays, immerse the entire tray in the solution for 5 minutes.
Spacing
Maintain a spacing of 60-75 cm between rows and 45-60 cm between plants within a row. This spacing ensures adequate air circulation and sunlight penetration, which are essential for healthy plant growth.
Nutrient Management
Fertilization
Balanced fertilization is essential for the optimal growth of capsicum:
For optimal crop growth, a total N:P:K requirement of 80:100:120 kg per acre is recommended. During the final land preparation, apply 50% of the nitrogen and all the phosphorus and potassium as a basal dose. For top dressing, apply 25% of the nitrogen 30 days after sowing and the remaining 25% of the nitrogen 50 days after sowing. This balanced nutrient management ensures proper growth and maximizes yield potential.
Irrigation Management
Drip irrigation should be applied every other day, ensuring to check soil moisture first. Flood irrigation is recommended once a week, adjusted according to rainfall. During the summer season, irrigate at intervals of 5-6 days. After each Capsicum harvest, provide one irrigation session to support plant recovery. Regular monitoring and adjusting irrigation based on soil and weather conditions are essential for optimal Capsicum crop health.
Intercultural Operations
Weeding
Regular weeding is necessary to keep the field free of competing weeds. Manual weeding or the use of herbicides can be employed. Spray Bayer Sencor herbicide at a rate of 300 grams per acre, targeting only the inter-row weeds.
Training and Pruning
Train the plants to grow upright by providing support with stakes or trellises. Prune excess lateral shoots to promote the growth of the main stem and increase fruit production.
Crop Protection
Pest Management
The following pests are harmful to Capsicum farming and directly affect the yield of the Capsicum crop.
Thrips
The infested leaves develop crinkles and curl upwards, Buds become brittle and drop down, Early stage, infestation leads to stunted growth and flower production, fruit set are arrested
Mechanical Control: Install Blue sticky traps @ 10 per acre and Uproot the diseased plants and destroy them
Organic Control: Spray Azadirachtin or Neem oil @ 2 ml per lit water
Chemical Control: Spray Imidacloprid 17.8% SL 0.5 ml OR Fipronil 5 % SC 2 ml OR Ethion 50 % EC 2 ml per liter water.
Aphids
Aphids cause damage to leaves by sucking the cell sap. Large number of Aphids seen underside of the leaves. Extensive feeding causes plants to turn yellow and the leaves to curl downward and inward from the edges.
Mechanical Control: Install yellow sticky traps @ 10 per acre
Organic Control: Spray Azadirachtin or Neem oil @ 2 ml per lit water
Chemical Control: Spray Quinalphos 25% EC 2 ml OR Carbosulfan 25 % EC 2 ml OR Imidacloprid 17.8% SL 0.5 ml per liter water.
Whitefly
Whiteflies cause damage to leaves by sucking the cell sap. Due to this sticky substance secreted on the leaves and leaves appear black coloured. Causes Yellowing, inward curling and drying of leaves.
Mechanical Control: Install yellow sticky traps @ 10 per acre
Organic Control: Spray Azadirachtin or Neem oil @ 2 ml per lit water
Chemical Control: Spray Acetamiprid 20% SP – 0.5 gm or Imidacloprid 17.8% SL – 0.5 ml per liter water
Yellow mite
Symptoms of mite infestation on Capsicum crops include downward curling and crinkling of leaves, elongated petioles, and stunted growth.
Organic Control: Spray Azadirachtin or Neem oil @ 2 ml per lit water
Chemical Control: Spray Ethion 50 % EC 2 ml OR Fenazaquin 10 % EC 2 ml OR Propargite 57 % EC 2.5 ml OR Spiromesifen 22.9 % SC 1 ml per liter water.
Fruit Borer
The symptoms of fruit borer infestation on Capsicum crops include young larvae feeding on tender foliage, mature larvae boring circular holes, and thrusting only part of their bodies into the fruit to eat the inner content.
Mechanical Control: Install pheromone traps @ 5 unit per acre.
Chemical Control: Spray Emamectin benzoate 5% SG 0.5 gm OR Fipronil 5 % SC 2 ml OR Flubendiamide 480 SC 0.4 ml OR Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC – 0.4 ml per liter water.
Nematode
Symptoms include premature leaf fall, wilting and decline in growth and fruit production. Roots of infected plants show typical galls / knots.
Organic Control: Drench Paecilomyces Lilacinus @ 2 lit per acre.
Chemical Control: Drench Bayer Velum Prime – 300 ml per acre.
Disease Management
The following diseases are harmful to Capsicum farming and directly affect the yield of the Capsicum crop.
Damping Off
Damping off disease in Capsicum crops manifests as water-soaked lesions at the collar region. The affected areas turn brown and begin to rot. As the tissues soften, the plants eventually shrivel and collapse.
Organic Control: Drench the solution of Trichoderma viride 500 gm per acre.
Chemical Control: Drench fungicide Carbendazim 50% WP 500 gm or Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP 500 gm
Powdery Mildew
Severe infection results in the drying and shedding of affected leaves Powdery growth can also be seen on branches and young fruits Diseased fruits do not grow further and may drop down prematurely
Organic Control: Spray biofungicide Trichoderma viride 200 gm per acre.
Chemical Control: Spray fungicide Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP 500 gm or Azoxystrobin 8.3% + Mancozeb 66.7% WG 600 gm or Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WG 100 gm
Bacterial Leaf Spot
Bacterial Leaf Spot disease affects the leaves, fruits, and stems of Capsicum crops. Initially, circular, water-soaked lesions appear on the leaves. These spots then turn necrotic, featuring a brown center surrounded by chlorotic borders.
Organic Control: Spray biofungicide Pseudomonas Fluorescens 500 ml per acre.
Chemical Control: Spray fungicide Copper Oxychloride 50% WP 500 gm + Plantomycine 100 gm per acre.
Leaf Curl Virus
Capsicum leaf curl virus, spread by whiteflies, poses a significant threat to Capsicum crops. The disease symptoms include upward leaf curling, stunted plant growth, and reduced yields.
Cultural Control: Install Blue sticky traps @ 10 per acre and Uproot the diseased plants and destroy them
Organic Control: Spray Neem oil @ 2 ml per lit water
Chemical Control: Spray Geolife No Virus 500 ml with Thiamethoxam 25% WG – 100 gm OR Imidacloprid 17.8% SL 100 ml OR Fipronil 5 % SC 100 ml per acre.
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum Capsici)
The most frequent symptoms are lesions on the fruit. The centers of these lesions can vary in color from tan or orange to brown or black, often surrounded by concentric circles. Over time, the entire fruit may rot.
Chemical Control: Spray Avancer Glow @ 3 gm OR Curzet @ 2.5 gm OR Acrobat fungicide 1 gm /liter water.
Harvesting & Threshing
Capsicum fruits are ready for harvest 55-75 days after transplanting. Harvesting is done when the fruits are fully grown and attain their characteristic color. The fruits should be harvested carefully to avoid damage. A total of 6 to 10 pickings are required to complete the harvesting process.
Yield
The yield of capsicum varies depending on the variety and cultivation practices. On average, the yield ranges from 30 to 35 tonnes per hectare under open field conditions. Under protected cultivation, the yield can be significantly higher.
Conclusion
Capsicum cultivation is a profitable venture with significant market demand. Farmers can enhance their yields and contribute to the agricultural economy by adopting modern cultivation techniques and effective crop management strategies.
FAQs
Capsicum can be grown throughout the year under protected cultivation, but the main growing seasons are the summer (March to June) and the winter (October to February).
Capsicum prefers well-drained, fertile soils rich in organic matter. Sandy loam and loamy soils with a pH range of 6.0 to 6.8 are ideal.
Capsicum should be irrigated immediately after transplanting and then regularly at intervals of 5-7 days, depending on soil moisture levels and weather conditions.
Common pests include aphids, thrips, and fruit borers. Common diseases include powdery mildew, bacterial wilt, and mosaic virus.
Capsicum fruits are ready for harvest 60-80 days after transplanting when the fruits are fully grown and attain their characteristic color.
To grow capsicum, sow the seeds in well-draining soil and provide ample sunlight. Maintain consistent watering and fertilize regularly to ensure healthy growth and fruit development.