RESPONSE OF ‘BELL PEPPER’ TO L-METHIONINE AND POULTRY MANURE ENRICHED SOIL

This study assessed the performance of bell pepper (Capsicum annum) grown on L-Methionine and poultry enriched soil.  The field experiment conducted at the University of Ilorin Vegetable Plot was a randomized complete block design with six treatments. The first and second treatments contained 1 mg/kg and 1.5mg/kg L-Met. Treatment three and four had 1 mg/kg and 1.5mg/kg L-Met. Combined with 4 tons/ha poultry manure respectively. The fifth treatment was               4 tons/ha poultry manure while the sixth treatment was the control. All the treatments were three blocks as replicates.  Data were collected on growth and reproductive parameters of pepper from one week after transplanting. Data were subjected to Analysis of variance using the Statistical Package for Social Science (Version 20). Mean ± S..E were separated using Turkey’s studentized range test (HSD) at probability level of 0.05. Results showed that bell pepper grown on soil enriched with L-Met.and poultry manure performed better than those grown on soil enriched with either L-Met. only or the control in terms of number of leaves and number of branches/ plant, fruit length, fruit weight and fruit yield/plot. Flowering and fruiting were initiated and formed earlier in plants grown on soil enriched with 1.5 mg/kg L-Met. And poultry manure. The study concludes that the application of 1.5 mg/kg L-Met and 4 tons/ha poultry manure had significant effect on performance of bell pepper and thus has potential of improving pepper production. Therefore, it is recommended for adoption in bell pepper production in Nigeria and other developing nations.