Enhancing the productivity of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) through seed priming and planting methods in northeast Ethiopia

The germination of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seeds is generally slow and inconsistent, whether conditions are favorable or not. Achieving high yields of high-quality hot peppers requires seeds with a high and consistent germination rate. Therefore, a research study was carried out to evaluate the effects of using moringa leaf extract (MLE) as a seed priming agent and different planting techniques on the growth and yield of hot peppers. The treatments involved a factorial combinations of two planting methods (direct sowing and transplanting) and six levels of seed priming with moringa leaf extracts (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%), which was arranged in RCBD and replicated three times. Data were collected on various growth parameters of hot peppers and analyzed using SAS version 9.3. The results revealed that priming hot pepper seeds with MLE significantly enhanced germination percentage, vigor index, and germination speed. The analysis also revealed a significant interaction between seed priming and planting methods for most of the growth and yield parameters. Consequently, the highest total fruit yield (8.49 t ha-1), the summation of marketable and unmarketable fruit yield, were achieved from seeds that were primed with 10% MLE and then transplanted. However, the highest marketable yield (7.73 t ha-1) and the lowest unmarketable yield (0.70 t ha-1) were obtained from seeds that were primed with 8% MLE and then transplanted. Based on these findings, seeds primed with 8% MLE and subsequently transplanting methods are recommendedfor hot pepper production at Mersa and similar agro-ecological regions. However, the study should be repeated over seasons and locations to come up with a decisive recommendation.