EFFECT 01<'SELECTED SOIL AMENDMENTS ON SEED GERMINATION, SEEDLING GROWTH AND CONTROL OF DAMPING OFF OF CHILI SEEDLINGS

Abstract

Soil amendments with sand, ash, sawdust, cowdung, poultry refuse, neem compost. vermicompost and control were evaluated for seed germination, seedling growth and control of damping off disease of chili. Soil application of poultry refuse (T6). neem compost (T,) and vermicompost (To) showed better performance in controlling damping off of seedlings as well as increased seed germination and influenced growth characters of chili seedlings. The highest seedling population 78.00% at 12 DAS, 82.67% at 15 DAS and 90.33% at 18 DAS were recorded under the treatment Poultry refuse (T6), where seed germination was increased 43.57%, 24.63% and 34.82% over control. respectively. Poultry refuse reduced the damping off incidence by 100% at 20 DAS, 94.12% at 25 DAS and 89.46% at 30 DAS over control. Seedlings growth characters like shoot length, root length, seedling height. fresh shoot weight. fresh root weight and fresh seedling weight of chili were also enhanced by the application of poultry refuse. Application of neem compost and vermicompost also showed promising effect against damping off disease and also enhanced seed germination and growth characters of chili seedlings.