The Effect of Plant Density and Nitrogen Fertilizer (N) on the Growth and Yield of Paprika Crops

Abstract

Peppers (Capsicum annum var. Grossum L.) originally from the subtropical regions of Central America and is not native to Indonesia. Peppers are used as a food ingredient for cooking. The productivity of paprika plants in Indonesia has not reached its potential due to several influencing factors including environmental factors. One of the efforts to increase the productivity of peppers is by regulating planting distances and applying balanced nitrogen fertilizers.  This research has been conducted for 5 months, namely Apri 2020 - August 2020 in Noongan, West Langoan District, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi Province. The research land is at an altitude of 600 m above sea level, with a temperature of 24 – 260 C. Materials used during the study were red pepper seeds, soil, compost, nitrogen fertilizer (Urea). The tools used in this study were 9 kg polybags, meters, stationery, scissors, cameras, analytical scales, and sieves. The materials used during the study were red pepper seeds, soil, compost, urea fertilizer (N) and water. The study using a Randomized Group Design was repeated 3 times so that 48 experiments were obtained. The treatment plots of this study are: N0: No nitrogen fertilizer (urea), N1: Nitrogen fertilizer 50 kg/ha, N2: Nitrogen fertilizer 100 kg/ha, N3: Nitrogen fertilizer 150 kg/ha and K1: 20 x 20 Cm, K2: 30 x 30 cm, K3: 40 x  40 cm, K4: 50   x   50 cm  . If there is a real different influence on the treatment, it is continued by using the BNT (Smallest Real Difference) test with a level of 5%. The objectives of this study are: 1. To determine the best level of plant density on plant growth and yield. 2. Knowing the effect of the interaction between plant density and nitrogen fertilizer on the growth and yield of paprika plants.  Observations made include: Plant height, number of leaves, weight of segar fruit per plant and per hectare.  Based on  the results of research on planting wine that is suitable for plant growth such as plant height and number of leaves and the yield of paprika fruit is at a plant distance of 40 X 40 cm with urea fertilizer of 150 kg / ha. Likewise, the fresh weight of planting and perhektar is found in the same treatment, namely the N3K3 treatment (urea fertilizer 150 kh / ha and planting distance 40 X 40 cm) which gives the highest yield.