Effect of different types of nutrient media in growth performance of Chilli (Capsicum annuum l.) seedlings in Doti district

Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) is a vegetable cum spices crop belonging to the Solanaceae family. The goal of this study was to explore how different forms of nutritional media affected the growth and health of chili seedlings. This research was carried out for 45 days in an open poly-house at "Hariyali Tarkari Tatha Tasupancchi Farm", Silgadhi, Doti. The research study employed an RCBD ( Randomized Complete Block Design ) with three replications and seven treatments. The nutrients media (treatments) used were, T1 (control), T2 (cocopeat), T3 (vermicompost), T4 (cocopeat + vermicompost), T5 (vermicompost + FYM), T6 (cocopeat + FYM) and T7 (cocopeat + vermicompost + FYM). Seedlings were planted in portrays. The data were analyzed using ANOVA in R-studio software, followed by an LSD test to separate the means. The analysis revealed significant differences among the treatments, with the highest plant height (6.2 cm), number of leaves (5.8), fresh weight (0.498 g), and dry weight (0.225 g) observed in T5 (vermicompost + FYM). Notably, plant height in T1 was 5.82 cm, the number of leaves in T5 was 5.87, and fresh weight in T3 was 0.498 g, all of which differed from the control treatment (T1). Furthermore, the earliest germination was observed 11 days after sowing, with T5 exhibiting the highest germination percentage (97.33%), closely followed by T7 (96.67%). These findings underscore that the combination of vermicompost and FYM in T5 significantly outperforms other treatments in promoting the growth and health of chili seedlings. Consequently, we recommend T5 (vermicompost + FYM) as the optimal nutrient medium for cultivating chili seedlings.