Chilli production

Transplanting

RAINFED

A few days before transplanting, the land is either with plough or with a marker designed for the purpose depending upon the spacing followed, usually 90 x 90 or 75 x 75cm. Chilli seedlings are transplanted and sometimes lightly irrigated depending upon initial soil moisture and weather conditions.
IRRIGATED

Ridges and furrows are prepared at 50 to 75 cm distance depending upon the fertility of the soil. Irrigate one day before planting. Seedlings are transplanted 30cm apart from half way on the ridges and followed by light irrigation.
TIME OF PLANTING

Under rainfed conditions, it is transplanted mainly in June-July, chilli crops transplanted early in June has been found to escape the attack of thrips and mites in Dharwad region. However, late planted or with late varieties crop suffers less of anthracnose fruit rot as the ripening of fruits is after the Sept-Oct rains. Around Bangalore July transplanted crop gives the maximum yield.

CULTIVATION PRACTICES

Seed rate: Depending on the variety 1 to 1.25 kg of seeds are required for sowing one hectare of land.

Irrigation: Irrigation is given after transplanting. About four to five weeks after transplanting top dressing fertilizer on the sides of ridges and earthing up is done to bring plants to the middle of the ridge. Frequency of irrigation depends on soil type and season, and normally done once in 8-10 days during winter and 4-5 days interval during summer. Excess irrigation during flowering stage to be avoided to reduce flower dropping. During rainy season yields can be substantially increased by providing supplementary irrigations whenever the dry spell exceeds one week period. The most critical stages of moisture stress are initial establishment stage and pre-blooming and fruit development stage.

Weeding: Two to three hand weeding are essential. Among the herbicides recommended diphenamid, EPTC, nitrogen and alachlor are extensively used for controlling weeds in chilli crop. Pre plant incorporation (10 days before planting) of EPTC at 3.75 kg/ ha followed by application of either nitrogen at 1-2 kg a.i./ ha or alachlor at 2.5 kg a.i./ ha or Diphenamid around 4.8 kg/ ha as pre-emergence sprays give good control weeds in chilli plants.

Pinching: As bell varieties grown in India are of temperate origin, they start fruiting before they put up enough vegetative growth under tropical conditions. Hence, pinching of first two buds / flowers / just set fruits helps the plant to put up good vegetative growth and thus the yield.

Harvesting and yield: The crop starts yielding green chillies 2 months after transplanting and dry chillies 90 days after transplanting. The crop lasts for 5-6 months after transplanting depending upon duration of the variety. Four to five picking of green chillies or two to three picking of red ripe chillies is done.

Crop Production

Transplanting

CULTIVATION PRACTICES

Transplant

Crop Care

Precautions