FERTILIZATION OF MORINGA LEAFEXTRACT ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF SWEET BELL PEPPER (CAPSICUMANNUUM).

Abstract

Pot experiment was carried out at the teaching and research farm of the department of Agricultural Technology, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, Port Harcourt to evaluate the effect of rates of moringa leaf extract on growth and fruit quality of bell pepper Capsicum annuum. The treatment were rates or concentrations of the moringa leaf extract (0%, 4%, 8% and 12%) applied to soil filled polybags, arranged in a randomized complete block design replicated three times and using replicates as blocks. The parameters evaluated were plant height, Fruit fresh weight, Fruit dry weight, Proximate analysis, Lycopene and Vitamin A contents. The results show that fresh and dry weight of the bell pepper increased as moringa leaf extract increased.  While moisture content increased with decreasing levels of moringa leaf extract, protein, fats, carbohydrate, ash, lycopene, vitamin A and vitamin C contents increased with increasing levels of moringa leaf extract. 12% concentration recorded the highest value in all parameters evaluated. Application of 12% concentration of moringa extracted is recommended.