Effect of Decapitation on the Growth and Yield of Pepper (Capsicum annuum l.) in Obio Akpa, Akwa Ibom State

A screen house study was conducted at the Akwa Ibom State University Obio Akpa Campus Teaching and Research Farm, between the month of November -April 2022, to determine the effect of decapitation on the growth and yield of chili pepper (Capsicum annum L.). The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design and replicated three times. The treatments were different times of decapitation (10, 20, 30, and 40 days) after transplanting (DAT) and a control (no decapitation). Data collected were plant height (cm), leaf area (cm2 ), number of branches, stem girth (cm), number of fruits, fruit circumference (cm), fruit length (cm) and fruit yield (t/ha). Results showed significant differences in plant height, number of branches per plant, and fresh fruit yield. Pepper decapitated at 10 DAT gave the highest yield (19.24 t/ha), while the least fresh fruit yield was recorded at 40 DAT (10.72 t/ha). The result of this study indicates that decapitation at 10 DAT may increase the pepper fruit yield in the Obio Akpa farming community.