Professional Documents
Culture Documents
a) Name of crop ‐ Chilli
b) Common names – Lal mirch(Hindi, Punjabi & Urdu );
Mirachi(Marathi); Lanka/Lanka Morich( Bengali); Marcha (Gujarati);
Menessina Kayi(Kannada); Marstu, Waungum(Kashmiri); Mulaku
(Malayalam); Lanka (Oriya); Milagai (Tamil); Mirapakayi (Telugu);
Khursani (Nepali).
c) Scientific name – Capsicum annuum /Capsicum frutescens
d) Family‐ solanaceae
e) Origin‐ new Mexico & Guatemala
f) Importance –
It is one of the most common vegetables grown throughout the Country.
Different varieties are grown for vegetables, spices, condiments, sauces and
pickles. Both green and dried chillies are the important components of our
routine diet. It will give the required pungency, colour, taste and flavour to our
dishes. When a chilli taken with food stimulates our taste buds and thereby
increases the flow of saliva which is necessary for digestion. The presence of
capsaicin in chilli is responsible for its pungency and it has medicinal value.
Capsanthin, a pigment in chilli used for natural colouration to Jams, Jellies and
squashes, since it is a natural pigment and no harmful or side effects on human
health. Hence, there is lot of demand for chilli oleoresin in the world market.
Chilli also contains vitamin A, C and E. Because of these reasons chilli is having lot
of export potential.
2) Cultivation
a) Soil and climate
Chillies can be grown in all types of soils provided they are well drained,
well aerated and rich in organic matter. Chillies can be grown successfully in
light textures soils by providing adequate irrigation and manuring. Heavy
textured soils are also suitable for rainfed crop. An ideal soil for chilli is light
loamy or sandy loam rich in lime and organic matters. Chilli can be
successfully grown in soils with soil pH of 6‐7.
Chillies can be grown under tropical and sub‐tropical climates. It can be
cultivated upto an altitude of 2000m. However, pungent varieties or
varieties suited for spices cannot be grown on higher altitudes. A warm
humid climate favours growth while warm and dry weather enhances fruit
maturity. It can be grown successfully as a rain‐fed crop in areas receiving
an annual rainfall of 850‐1200 mm. Heavy rainfall leads to poor fruit set and
in association with high humidity leads to rotting of fruits. A soil
temperature of 10°C retards plant development, where as 17°C causes
normal development. A temperature ranging from 20‐25°C is ideal for
chillies. Tops of plant will continue to develop at higher temperatures but
root development is retarded at soil temperatures of 30°C and above. In
chillies fruit development was found to be adversely affected at
temperatures of 37°C or more. High temperature associated with low
relative humidity at flowering increases the transpiration resulting in
abscission of buds, flowers and small fruits. A daily mean temperature of
200C to 250C is more favourable for its successful production.
b) Season and months
It can be grown in plains throughout the year but Kharif season is the best.
Rainy Season ‐ June ‐ July
Winter Season ‐October‐ November
Summer Season ‐ February ‐ March
c) Varieties
d) Methods of cultivation‐
There are two methods
1. Direct sowing –direct seeding of chilli under rainfed conditions is recommended
in heavy black soils Thin out excess seedlings at 40‐45 days age and transplant the
same wherever gaps are found.
2. Transplanting ‐Chillies are grown on nursery beds & then transplanted on main
field.
Nursery bed preparation –
Since the seeds are very small in size, they are normally sown in raised nursery
beds and the seedlings are planted in the main field later on. Seeds can be sown
individually in small plastic cups or ice cream cups. Avoid using same place for
nursery bed preparation year after year.The size of the nursery plot to raise
seedlings for planting a hectare of chilli would be 180m x 1.2m. These plots would
be better, made into smaller beds of 3m x 1.2m instead of single bed. The width
of the bed does not exceed 1.2 m so that it facilitates weeding and watering
without trampling the bed. Apply 25‐30 tones FYM/ ha. Transplant 40‐45days
aged seedlings. Optimum period of transplanting chilli is first fortnight of July. The
site for nursery beds should be located close to the source of water supply. The
common practice is to broad cast seeds in the nursery bed, but line sowing is
preferred so as to proper germination, uniform spacing and to facilitate weeding,
hoeing and plant protection operation. The rows are usually kept about 8‐10cm
apart.. Small seed should be sown mixed with a little sand and covered with soil
by passing a flat wooden plank followed by light irrigation with a sprinkler.
Watering of the bed is done gently to avoid packing or washing away of the soil
covering the seed. In the beginning shade is provided by covering the seed with a
thick layer of leaves over the bed. When the seedlings are more than 2.5 cm, tall,
the shade should be removed.
e) Seed rate –1.5to 2kg per hector
1.5kg/ha or nursery of 25‐30 beds of the size 1x4 m would be adequate to
transplant one hectare. The seedlings with 3‐4 leaves which are approximately
40‐45 days old should be transplanted with adequate spacing.
f) Spacing ‐ Spacing should be 45 cm to 60 cm between plants, depending on
cultivar, and 60 cm to 90 cm between rows, depending on the type of cultivation
equipment being used. 15 cm x 60 cm (within and between rows ‐ 2 seedlings/hill)
Irrigated Crop
• Light soils ‐ 45 cm x 75 cm (within and between rows) ‐ 2 seedlings / hill.
• Heavy soils ‐60 cm x 60 cm (within and between rows) ‐ 2 seedlings / hill
(Fertile soils).
g)Land preparation
During last week of May or first week of December, ridges and furrows are
prepared. Fields which are previously used for Potato, Tomato, Chilli and
Tobacco are not suitable for Chilli cultivation. The field is ploughed three or
four times and leveled properly. At the last ploughing 20‐25 tones of
farmyard manure, 200 kg neem cake has to be applied. Ridges and furrows
are formed at a spacing of 60 cm. Proper land preparations at correct
season and time with the appropriate time of sowing will help to obtain
higher yields. During first ploughing moisture retention capacity of the soil
gets increased and land becomes favourable for cultivation. When the land
is ploughed there should be enough moisture in the soil. Number and
depth of ploughings depends on weed growth intensity in that area, seed
rate, nature of crop root growth etc. Summer ploughing is having its own
advantages so that summer showers should be better utilized for land
preparation. For getting required soil physical condition, after each
ploughing, work with gorru so that clod size will be reduced.
h)Sowing/ planting
Transplanting‐ A suitable chilli plant for transplanting is 15 cm to 20 cm in
height and has a good sturdy stem. Immersion of seedlings in Starter
solution (a dilute solution of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash) at the time
of transplanting will boost the growth of the seedlings. The transplanting is
done in small flat beds in light soils where irrigation is available and on
shoulders in shallow furrow where irrigation water is scanty. In heavy soil it
is usually transplanted on ridges and during the rains also it is
advantageous to plant the seedlings on ridges. The seedlings are planted in
the furrows at a spacing of 30 cm and the plant is allowed to spread on the
broad ridge. In the normal system of planting, the seedlings are planted on
the sides of the ridges.
3) Intercultural operations
a) Thinning & gap filling
Thinning & gap filling is done for keeping 2 healthy seedlings per spot. The
gap filling is done in missing areas of the planted main field to maintain
optimum population.
b) Water management
One has to irrigate chilli during rabbi and summer season.
During rabbi season 7‐8 irrigations at 15 days interval are required
During summer season 10‐15 irrigations at 7‐8 days interval are required
SYSTEM AND METHODS OF IRRIGATION
The irrigation system must ensure uniform distribution and no wastage of water.
Chillies can be irrigated by surface‐irrigation system; sprinkler irrigation system;
sub‐ irrigation system, and drip irrigation system.
Surface‐irrigation system: water is directly applied to the surface of the soil and is
spread by gravity. There are several methods viz. flooding from ditch, check basin,
ring and basin, border strip and furrow.
Sprinkler irrigation system: water is applied in the form of thin spray from above.
A typical sprinkler irrigation system consists of a pump, pipes, risers and nozzles
that convey water under pressure.
Sub‐ irrigation system: water is applied into a series of field ditches deep down to
the impervious layer. It then moves laterally and then vertically through
capillaries and saturates the root zone.
Drip irrigation system: it involves the slow application of water, drop by drop, to
the root zone of a crop. The equipment consists of a pumping unit to create
pressure, pipe‐lines, emitters and a filter unit.
c) Earthing Up
• It is the process of putting the earth or soil just near the base for certain
crops to give support to the plants.
• In Vegetables ‐ To facilitate irrigation.
d) Fertilizer management
I. Organic fertilizers‐ 20 ton well rotten FYM or compost should
incorporated at the time of land preparation
II. Chemical fertilizers
Chillies being a long duration crop require a good amount of manures and
fertilizers for high yield.
• The nutrient requirement for varieties is 100:50:50 kg NPK/ha and for
hybrids it is 200:75:75 kg NPK/ha.
Basal dressing
• Fifty per cent of the N is applied along with full dose of P and K as basal
dressing just before planting as noted below.
1. 50 kg of Nitrogen (110 kg of Urea)/ha.
2. 50 kg of Phosphorus (313 kg of Super Phosphate)/ha.
3. 50 kg of Potash (80 kg of Muriate of Potash)/ha.
Top dressing
Thirty days after transplanting, the remaining 50% nitrogen (N) is applied in the
form of urea 110 kg, as a band application 5‐10 cm away from the plants and
mixed with the soil.
Chilli responding well for ratooning with yield potential of 63% of the main crop
within 100‐110 days and with a fertilizer dose of 75:25:30Kg. NPK/ha
Application Methods
Fertilizers are applied in several ways.
Basal dressings are those fertilizers which are incorporated in the soil just before
sowing or planting.
In general half the dosage of N, full dosage of P2O5 and full dosage of K2O are
applied as basal dressing in most crops.
e) Crop protection
I. Pest management
Stem borer, shoot borer, thrips, aphids, mites are major pest
infesting Chilli.
II. Disease management
Blight, leaf blast, powdery mildew, bunchy top are the diseases of
Chilli.
III. Weed management
Weeding is the process of eliminating competition of unwanted plants to the
regular crop in respect to nutrition and moisture. So that crops can be grown
profitably. It also facilitates other operations like irrigation and fertilizer
application. The advantages of weeding are
1. Conservation of soil moisture.
2. Reduced competition for nutrients, sunlight, space and water.
4) Harvesting & post harvest processing
a) Method of harvesting
Time and stage of harvesting chilli is decided by the purpose for which it is
grown. Mostly the crop is produced for dry chilli fruits. The crop is ready for
harvesting green chilli in about a month after transplanting. This practice
not only supplements net returns to farmer but also enhances growth of
plants and induces them to produce more flowers and fruits for dry chillies
the fruits should not under ripened or over ripened. Crop is ready for
harvesting ripe fruits in about three and a half months. Picking of fruits
continues for about 2 months and 6 pickings are taken annually. While
harvesting fruits, care should be taken to hold stalks firmly, and fruit should
be pulled upward gently, breaking the base of the stalk. If it is rainfed crop
2‐4 pickings and for irrigated crop 6‐8 pickings are generally taken.
b) Production
I. Main product
Depending on the variety and the season it produces 250 to 400
quintals of fruits per hectare.
II. By product‐
c) Post harvest processing
The fruit can be stored for two to three days during winter and one to two
days during summer under ordinary conditions but it can be kept for about
a week in fairly good conditions at 7.2o to 100 C and 85 to 95% relative
humidity.
Chillis are sold for distant as well as for local markets.