Effect of sowing date on quality seed production of sweet pepper in Bangladesh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of sowing date on quality seed production of sweet pepper at the research farm of Seed Technology Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, during 2011-2012. The aim of this study was to find out the optimum sowing date for quality seed production of sweet pepper. The treatments were 4 four sowing dates viz. 15 October, 30 October, 15 November and 30 November. Seeds were sown in seed bed for 1^st sowing on 30 September, for 2^nd sowing on 15 October, for 3^rd sowing on 30 October and for 4^th sowing on 15 November. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCB) with three replications. The highest individual fruit weight, 1000 seed weight was obtained from the October 15 sowing date in the year of 2011-2012 and it was significantly different from all other dates of sowing. Maximum seed yield (86.2 kg ha^-1) was recorded in 2^nd sowing date (15 October) followed by 3^rd sowing date (30 October) treatment while the lowest was found from 4^th sowing date (15 November) (30.72, kg ha^-1). Maximum seed quality as measured by moisture content, dry weight, vigour index and germination percentage were obtained at different sowing date. Maximum seed weight (mass maturity) was achieved at 1^st sowing when average seed moisture contents were 5% and 4%, respectively. For high seed quality, sweet pepper is better sowing time at 2^nd sowing time (15 October) which could be regarded as the point of physiological maturity.

Progressive Agriculture 28 (3): 216-221, 2017