PLANT SPATIAL ARRANGEMENT AND ITS EFFECT ON GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND YIELD OF JALAPEÑO PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

Regional farmers commonly plant Jalapeño pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) on 90-cm wide beds and in-row spacing of 40-cm with a
single plant row, with a mean production of 23 t ha^-1. For this reason two field experiments with different plant densities and spatial arrangements were conducted to evaluate their effects on jalapeño pepper growth, development and production. In 1995, 50, 70, 90, and 110 cm wide bed and 10, 25, 40, and 55 cm in-row plant spacings in a single row and different number of plants per pot (1, 2, 3 and 4 plants) were evaluated on cv. Jalapeño M. In 1996, 50, 70, and 90 cm wide bed and 20, 40, and 60 cm in-row spacings were evaluated, in the same variety Jalapeño M and the hybrid Jalapeño Delicias. The experimental treatment design San Cristobal I was used in 1995 and a complete factorial 3² in 1996, both established in a randomized complete blocks design with two replications, and using three 5 m rows as experimental unit. Comparison between genotypes was done with thet test. As the bed and the in-row spacing decreased, the early and total yield increased significantly without affecting fruit quality. The best treatments were the 50 cm wide bed and the 40 cm in-row spacing, although plant height was increased and stem and foliage diameter decreased. The Jalapeño Delicias hybrid had higher yield than Jalapeño M, both under high or low plant densities. Fruit quality decreased as the plant number per pot was increased. Lowering the bed spacing and the in-row plant spacings, and higher number of plants per pot delayed flowering and fructification, particularly in Jalapeño M.