EFFECT OF POULTRY LITTER ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF CHILI (BIJLI PLUS) UNDER MANGO BASED AGROFROESTRY SYSTEM

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the research field of the Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, from February, 2024 to June, 2024 to evaluate the impact of poultry litter on the growth and yield of chili (Bijli Plus) production under mango-based agroforestry system. The experiment was designed as Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and four treatments of poultry litter at 10 ton/ha, 7.5 ton/ha, 5 ton/ha, and a control with no poultry litter. Each of the 12 plots measured 2m x 2m. Healthy 25-day-old chili seedlings were collected from the Nursery of BRAC, Dinajpur and transplanted in the present research field on February 20, 2024. Data on various growth and yield parameters were collected at 15, 30, and 45 days after transplanting (DAT), including plant height, number of leaves, leaf dimensions, number of branches, chlorophyll content, soil parameters, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, number of fruits per plant, yield per plot and hectare, and Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR). The data were analyzed using ANOVA and mean differences were evaluated by Tukey HSD test by the statistical software STAR (Statistical Tool for Agricultural Research). Results indicated that the tallest plants and highest leaf numbers were observed in the 10 ton/ha poultry litter treatment across all stages. Leaf dimensions were also greatest in the 10 ton/ha treatment. But the highest yields per plot and hectare were achieved with 7.5 ton/ha poultry litter, with a maximum yield of 10265.83 kg/ha. The best fruit quality, in terms of weight, length, and diameter, was found in the 7.5 t/ha treatment. The highest chlorophyll contents were in the 7.5 ton/ha treatment. Soil parameters improved post-harvest in all poultry litter treatments, with the most significant improvements in the 10 ton/ha treatment. The highest BCR (3.25) was recorded for the 7.5 ton/ha treatment, while the lowest (2.43) was in the control. In conclusion, the application of 7.5 ton/ha poultry litter is recommended for maximizing chili fruit quality, yield and economic returns under mango-based agroforestry system. This study demonstrates the benefits of using poultry litter to improve chili production in agroforestry systems.