Effect of Different Growing Media on Growth and Germination Parameters of Bell Pepper (<i>Capsicum annuum</i>) Seed in Bhojpur, Nepal

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum), particularly the California Wonder variety, is a high-value vegetable crop in Nepal, contributing significantly to farmers' livelihoods and food security.However, optimizing nursery practices remains a challenge, as seedling growth and establishment are highly influenced by the choice of growing media.Selecting an appropriate medium can enhance seedling vigor, leading to improved crop productivity and economic returns.Therefore, this study investigated the impact of different growing media on the germination and growth parameters of bell pepper seedlings in Bhojpur, Nepal, during the spring season (May-June 2023).The experiment followed a two-factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two levels of treatment combinations.Seeds of California Wonder and Sagar varieties were procured from local agro-vets and sown in seed trays using different growth media: Soil, Soil + Cocopeat (1:1), Soil + Farmyard Manure (FYM) (3:1), Soil + Vermicompost (1:1), and Soil + Cocopeat + FYM + Vermicompost (1:1:1:1).The results demonstrated a significant influence of the growing medium on key germination and growth parameters.The highest germination percentage (90.83%)and germination rate index (67.70)were recorded in Soil + Vermicompost (1:1), whereas the Soil + Cocopeat + FYM + Vermicompost (1:1:1:1) medium yielded the highest values for seedling vigor index (950.05),number of leaves (5.13), seedling length (6.91 cm), stem diameter (0.28 cm), fresh weight (1.13 g), dry weight (0.12 g), root length (5.70 cm), and leaf area (9.75 cm).Among the tested varieties, California Wonder performed best in most growth parameters, except germination percentage and germination rate index.Optimizing its nursery conditions with sustainable growing media can enhance seedling establishment and boost bell pepper production in Nepal.