The application of several cultivation practices on growth and production of chili (Capsicum annuum L.) varieties in the rainy season

Application of chemical pesticides may cause significant negative impact on production and quality of Chili. Therefore, implementation of friendly environmentally based cultivation practiced is absolutely needed. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the growth and the yield of chili ( Capsicum annuum L.) varieties grown by using three cultivation practices. This study was conducted in Bengkayang region, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia, from August 2019 to February 2020. A Nested Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications was arranged. The subplots were the commercial chili varieties (Lingga, Kencana, and Leket as a local one) and main plot were cultural practices, i.e., CO: friendly environmental-based technology (i.e., increased plant population from 20.000 to 30.000 plants/ha, the using of biopesticides, trapping, and maize as barrier plant; CP: recommended technology (CO + a recommended pesticides), and CF: farmer technology-based. The results showed that the plant height of Leket on CO treatment was the best until eight weeks after planting; whereas the widest plant canopy was found in the Lingga. More than 30% of plants were attacked by pests and diseases that cause curling leaves. The Leket was the most sensitive to curl (40%); on the other hand, CO treatment decreased this symptom by 5.5%. In terms of yield, the Kencana produced the highest fruit number per plant (142), and the CP treatment had the most harvest frequency. Percentage of ripe fruit weight loss after one week of storage was about 12-22% with the most severe was Lingga. In this area during the rainy season, the highest potential yield was on the CO treatment (17.5 tons/ha). These results indicated that environmentally friendly cultivation on chili could be developed in this season.