Effect of integrated nutrient management strategies for sustainable Naga chilli (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) production in northeastern region of Bangladesh

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2018-19 at the research field of the Citrus Research Station, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Jaintapur, Sylhet (25.13562ºN, 92.13217ºE, 36 m above sea level), to evaluate the impact of integrated nutrient management on the growth and yield of Naga chilli. The study included seven treatments: T1 (100% Recommended Chemical Fertilizer, RCF), T2 (100% RCF + 10 t/ha cow dung), T3 (100% RCF + 15 t/ha cow dung), T4 (120% RCF + 10 t/ha cow dung), T5 (120% RCF + 15 t/ha cow dung), T6 (80% RCF + 10 t/ha cow dung), and T7 (80% RCF + 15 t/ha cow dung). The results showed that the highest fruit yield (9.11 t/ha) was achieved with treatment T5 (120% RCF + 15 t/ha cow dung) followed by T4 and T7. The lowest yield was recorded in T1 (100% RCF alone). Economically, T5 also outperformed all other treatments, producing the highest gross income (Tk. 1,822,800/ha) and net income (Tk. 1,366,154/ha), along with the highest benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 3.99. These findings suggest that the combination of 120% recommended chemical fertilizer with 15 t/ha cow dung (T5) is the most effective in enhancing both yield and profitability of Naga chilli, making it a promising strategy for sustainable production and improved economic return.