Abstract:
Hot pepper is one of the most important spice and vegetable crops cultivated by smallholder farmers
in Amhara region, particularly in the North Mecha district. However, the yield of the crop is low due
to several production constraints, with the limited availability of improved varieties and soil nutrient
deficiencies being among the major challenges. Hence, this experiment was carried out during the
2023 irrigation season in North Mecha, at Koga irrigation scheme. The aim was to identify highyielding
varieties along with determining the optimum amount of blended NPSB fertilizer. The
treatments consisted of four levels of blended NPSB fertilizer (0, 192, 242, and 292 kg ha
) and four
hot pepper varieties (Vigro, Amando, Serenade, and Marekofana) arranged in 4x4 factorial
combination in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data on
growth, yield, and quality parameters of the crops were collected and analyzed by using Statistical
Analysis Software (SAS) version 9.4. The results clearly showed that hot pepper growth, yield, and
quality were significantly influenced by varieties and NPSB fertilizer applied. Key parameters such
as plant height, number of branches, leaf area index, green pod weight, number of pods per plant,
marketable, unmarketable, and total green pod yields were influenced by the main and interaction
effect of varieties and NPSB fertilizer. While days to the first harvest and all quality parameters
were influenced solely by the main effects of both factors. Notably, significantly the highest
marketable green pod yields (17.99 and 17.88 t ha
-1
) were obtained from Vigro and Amando
varieties treated with 242 kg ha
-1
NPSB respectively. However, the lowest marketable yield (4.32 t
ha
-1
)) was recorded from Marekofana with control. Based on the partial budget analysis, variety
Vigro coupled with 242 kg ha
-1
NPSB gave the highest net benefit of 657,946.5 birr ha
and a
marginal rate of return of 8,958.76%. The second acceptable marginal rate of return (5222.5%) was
observed from open pollinated Marekofana variety with 242 kg ha
-1
NPSB. As a result, based on the
result of this experiment, the treatment combination of Vigro with 242 kg ha
-1
NPSB is recommended
for resource-full and commercial farms while Marekofana with 242 kg ha
-1
NPSB can be advised for
resource-poor farmers in North Mecha District and other areas with similar agro-ecological
conditions.