POTENTIAL OF CHILLI VARIETIES UNDER CHEMICAL AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN THAILAND

Sorapong Benchasri, Sakunkan Simla

Abstract: Thirty five varieties of hot chilli were evaluated under chemical and organic agricultural systems. The objectives of this study were to compare crop performance of chilli cultivars in terms of productivity and reactions to root and stem rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii and piecing and sucking insect pests (thrips and aphids) and identify chilli cultivars that have good adaptation to chemical and organic agricultural systems. The chilli varieties were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications at two agricultural systems (chemical and organic agricultural) between December 2012 and June 2013. The results showed that there were highly significant (p≤0.01) by plant height, leaf width, leaf length, canopy width, branches/plant, stem width, fruit width, fruit length, fruits/plant and yields/plant in different chilli varieties. The highest number of quality fruit was found on Chee 519.42±14.27 and 512.69±12.35 fruits/plant under chemical and organic agricultural systems, respectively. The lowest number of quality fruit was observed on Labmeunang 27.63±6.10 and 19.89±5.78 fruits/plant under the chemical agricultural system and organic agricultural system, respectively. Chee produced the highest yields under the chemical and organic agricultural system 701.22±18.58 and 630.61±16.35 grams/plant, respectively. Labmeunang produced the lowest yield in two systems (38.41±12.25 and 26.45±10.05 grams/plant) under the chemical and organic agricultural systems, respectively. The lowest disease percentage was recorded 6.25 and 2.08 percent on Chee under organic and chemical agricultural system, respectively. Chee had the highest resistance to insect pests (trips and aphids) under both chemical and organic agricultural systems with leaf damage ratings of 0.09 and 0.25, respectively. The results indicated that Chee show potential for chilli production in both systems.

Keywords: Capsicum spp.; chemical agricultural system; organic agricultural system; yield

Date published: 2017-02-28