CHILLY

Most valuable crop of India and is used as a principle ingredient of various curries and chutneys, also used in vegetables, spices, condiments, sauces and pickles. Pungency in chillies is due to the active constituent "Capsaicin", an alkaloid. The native home of chilli is considered to be Mexico. Capsaicin has many medicinal properties, especially as an anti-cancerous agent and instant pain reliever. It also prevents heart diseases by dilating blood vessels. India is the world leader in chilli production followed by China & Pakistan. Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odhisa,Tamilnadu.Bihar, UP and Rajasthan are major chilly producing states in India. Panipat, Gurgaon, Karnal, Jind and Ambala are major chilly growing district in Haryana.

Chilli is grown in many types of soils-sandy to heavy clay. A well-drained, fairly light fertile loam with a fair moisture holding capacity is ideal. The light soils produce better quality fruits than heavy soils. Chilli crop prefers a soil reaction ranging from pH 6–7.

Hisar Shakti: Fruits are medium, long. This variety is resistant to fruit rot and powdery mildew. It gives average yield of 68-76 qtl/acre.

Hisar Vijay: Early variety gives resistance to leaf curl mosaic virus, fruit rot and powdery mildew. It gives average yield of 70-76 qtl/acre. 

NP-46A: High yielding variety with medium size fruit. It gives average yield of 40 qtl/acre.

Pusa Jwala: Plants are dwarf, bushy, light green. Fruits are 9-10 cm long, light green, highly pungent, fairly tolerant to thrips and mites. Average yield of 85 qtl/acre (green) and 18 qtl/acre (dry).

Pusa Sadabahar: Plants are erect, perennial (2-3 years), 60-80cm tall, fruits are 6-8cm long, born in clusters with 6-14 fruits/cluster, ripe fruits dark red, highly pungent, resistant to CMV, TMV and leaf curl complex, first picking in 75-80 days after transplanting. Average yield of 95 qtl/acre (green) and 20 qtl/acre (dry).

Arka Meghana: High yielding hybrid with resistant to powdery mildew and viruses. Fruits are of length 10.6cm and width 1.2 cm. Fruits are dark green and turn to red on maturity. Gives average yield of 120 qtl/acre green chilly and 25 qtl/acre dry chilly.

Arka Sweta: High yielding hybrid for fresh market. Suitable for cultivation in kharif and rabi seasons under irrigated conditions. Fruits length is 11-12 cm, width 1.2-1.5 cm. They are smooth and medium pungent. Fruits are light green and turn red at maturity. Tolerant to viruses. Yield 135 qtl/acre (fresh) and 23 qtl/acre (dry).

Kashi Early: Plants are tall (100-110 cm height) without nodal pigmentation on dull green stems and bear pendant fruits. Fruits are long (8-9 x 1.0-1.2 cm), attractive, dark green and turn bright red at physiological maturity, pungent with smooth surface. First picking of the green fruits starts at about 45 days after transplanting. Average yield of this hybrid is 105 qtl/acre (red ripe).

Kashi Surkh: Plants are semi determinate (1-1.2 m), erect and nodal pigmentation on stem. Fruits are light green, straight, length 11-12 cm, suitable for green as well as red fruit production. First harvest starts after 55 days of transplanting. Green fruit yield is 105 qtl/acre.

Kashi Anmol: Plants are determinate, dwarf (60-70 cm) with nodal pigmentation on stem and bear green attractive pendant fruits. First picking starts from 55 days after transplanting. It gives average yield of 85 qtl/acre.

Pant C-1: This variety is easily distinguishable from the other varieties because of the fact that it has upright fruiting pods. The pods are highly pungent, relatively small in size, broader at the base and narrow towards the tip. It is moderately resistant to mosaic and leaf curl virus. The green pod yield of this variety is 110 qtl/acre. The dry pod yield is about 20 qtl/acre.

Other States Varieties

Kashi Vishwanath

Sankeshwar: Mild flavor, long and red color variety. It is suitable for export.

Byadgi (Kaddi) : Mild flavor, long and bright red color variety.

Dabbi: Mild flavor, long and thick blackish variety.

Carry out ploughing for 2-3 times and clod crushing after each ploughing. Add compost or Farm Yard Manure @150-200qtl/ acre and mix well in the soil 15-20 days before sowing. Form ridges and furrows at spacing of 60 cm. Apply 0.8 kg/acre of Azospirillum and 0.8 kg/acre of Phosphobacteria by mixing with 8 kg of FYM.
IMP: Do not cultivate tomato and chilly crop in same field or in nearby field, as pest and diseases are similar. Also spread anthracnose and bacterial disease. When it is intercropped with onion and coriander, it gives additional income also helps in controlling weed population. For nematodes control, take onion, garlic or merry gold as intercrop.

Time of sowing
Prepared nursery in month of May to June and in October to November.

Spacing
Use row to row spacing of 60cm and plant to plant spacing of 45cm.

Method of sowing
Transplantation in field.

Nursery Preparation: Form raised beds of 1m width and convenient length. Mix sterilized coco peat@300kg with 5kg neem cake along with Azospirillum and phosphobacteria each@1kg.
Approximately 1.2kg of cocopeat is required for filling one portray. 120 portrays are required for the production of 11,600 seedlings, which are required for one acre land.
Sow the treated seed in protrays@1seed per cell. Cover the seed with coco peat and keep the trays one above the other and cover with a polythene sheet till germination starts. After sowing of seeds in nursery, cover bed with 400mesh nylon net or thin white cloth. It helps to protect seedlings from pest-disease attack. After 6 days place the portrays with germinated seedlings individually on the raised beds inside the shade net. Water with rose cane everyday up to seed germination. Drench with 19:19:19 @ 0.5% (5gm/Ltr) at 18 days after sowing.

Transplantation in Field: After 30-40 days, seedlings are ready for transplantation. For transplantation 6-8 week old or 15-20cm height seedlings are selected.

Seed Rate
For sowing one acre land, seed rate of 400gm is required.

Seed Treatment
To protect crop from various soil borne disease seed treatment is necessary. Before sowing do seed treatment with Thiram@3gm or Carbendazim@2gm/kg. After chemical treatment, treat seed with Trichoderma@5gm/kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens@10 gm/kg. keep it in shade and use it for sowing. Do watering with roseanne on daily basis. Drench the nursery with Copper oxychloride@2.5gm/ltr of water at 15 days interval to prevent crop from damping off disease.

To protect against wilt, sucking pest, dip roots for 15 min in Trichoderma harzianum@20gm/Ltr+0.5ml/Ltr Imidacloprid before transplanting. Seedling inoculation with VAM supplemented with nitrogen fixing bacteria, save super phosphate by 50% along with saving of 25% nitrogen application.  

For seed treatment use any one fungicide from the following:

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply Nitrogen@25 kg in form of Urea@55 kg/acre, Phosphorus@12 kg in form of Single Super Phosphate@75 kg and Potash@12 kg in form of MOP (Muriate of Potash)@20 kg/acre. Apply half dose of nitrogen and full dose of phosphorus and potash at time of transplanting. Apply remaining amount of nitrogen after first picking.
Also to obtain high yield take spray of MAP 12:61:00@75gm/15 Ltr water at 40-45 days after transplanting at branch growing stage. To increase yield along with to obtain more no of pickings, Apply sulphur/Bensulf@10 kg/acre and spray calcium nitrate@10gm/Ltr water in flowering stage.

Water Soluble Fertilizer: 10-15 days After transplantation, sprayed 19:19:19 with micronutrients@2.5-3gm/Ltr of water. Then after 40-45 days sprayed 20% Boron@1gm + Micronutrients@2.5-3 gm/Ltr of water. When crop is in flowering stage sprayed 0:52:34@4-5gm+micronutrients@2.5-3gm/Ltr of water. In fruiting stage sprayed 0:52:34@4-5gm+Boron@1 gm/Ltr of water. When crop is fruit formation stage sprayed 13:0:45@4-5gm+Calcium nitrate@2-2.5 gm/Ltr of water.
Growth regulators: To control flower drop and to get good quality fruit, take spray of NAA (naphthalene Acetic acid)@40 PPM@ 40mg/Ltr water at flower Initiation stage. Care during flowering & fruit set gives up to 20% more yield. Spray Homobrassinalide@5ml/10Ltr of water at flowering thrice at 15 days gap. To increase fruit set having good quality. spray Triacontanol growth regulator at 1.25ppm(1.25ml/Ltr) on 20,40,60 and 80th day of planting.

Apply Pendimethalin@1 ltr/acre or Fluchloralin@800 ml/acre as pre-emergence herbicide followed by hand weeding once 30 days after planting. Carryout first weeding operation, 25 days after planting. Depending upon intensity repeat weeding and keep field free of weeds.

It can't withstand heavy moisture so apply irrigation only when needed. Heavy irrigation causes lanky vegetative growth and flower drop. No of irrigation and interval of irrigation depend on soil and climatic condition. If plant show dropping at 4pm, it is indication of plant needed irrigation. Flowering and fruit development are most critical stages of water requirement. Stagnation of water should not be allowed in nursery and field as it causes fungal infection.

• Pest and their control:
  

Fruit borer: Caterpillar eat leaves of crop afterward they enter into fruit and caused heavy loss in yield.
Management: Collect and destroy damaged fruits and grown up caterpillars. Set up pheromone traps for Helicoverpa armigera or Spodoptera litura at 5 Nos./acre. To control pod borers apply poison bait balls made up of bran-5kg, Carbaryl-500gm, Jaggery-500gm and sufficient amount of water. If Infestation of fruit borers is observed, spray Chlorpyrifos@200ml + Cypermethrin @60ml+Teepol@0.5ml in 12Ltr of water with power sprayer. Spray with Emamectin benzoate 5% SG@4gm/10Ltr of water or Flubendiamide 20WDG@6gm/10litre of water.

Mite: These are widely distributed pest observed throughout the world. It attacks on several crops like potato, chilli, beans, cotton, tobacco, curcurbit, castor, jute, coffee, lemon, citrus, blackgram, cowpea, pepper, tomato, sweet potato, mango, papaya, brinjal, guava. Nymphs and adults feed exclusively on the lower surface of the leaves. Infected leaves gives cup shape appearance. Heavy infestation results in defoliation, bud shedding and drying of leaves.
Management: If Infestation of yellow mite & thrips is observed in field, spray of Chlorfenapyr@1.5ml/Ltr, Abamectin@1.5ml/Ltr are found effective. Mite is a serious pest and it may cause yield loss up to 80%. For effective control spray Spiromesifen 22.9SC@200ml/acre/180Ltr of water.

Aphid: They attack mostly in winter month and later stage of crop. They suck sap from the leaf. They excrete honey like substance and developed Sooty mold i.e blackish colour fungus on the Calyx and pods thus deteriorate quality of product. Aphids also work as important insect vectors for chilly mosaic. Mosaic disease transmitted by aphids cause 20-30 per cent loss in yield.
Management: To control take spray of Acephate 75SP@5gm/ltr or Methyl demeton 25EC@2ml/Ltr of water. Soil application of granular insecticides viz Carbofuran, Phorate@4-8kg/acre on 15 and 60 days after transplanting were also effective.

Thrips: Commonly observed pest. Mostly observed in dry weather. They suck sap from the foliage and results in curling of leaves. Also causes flower drop.
To check severity of thrips incidence, keep blue sticky traps @6-8 per acre. Also to reduce the incidence spray Verticillium lecani@5gm/Ltr water
Management: If incidence of thrips is more, then take spray of Imidacloprid@60ml 17.8SL or Fipronil 200ml/150Ltr per acre of water or Acephate 75% WP@1.0gm/Ltr or do drenching of Thiamethoxam@80gm/Ltr of water.

White fly: The nymphs and adults of White fly suck the cell sap from the leaves and weaken the plants. They secrete honey dew on which black sooty mould develops on leaves. They also transmit leaf curl diseases. To check infestation use yellow sticky traps coated with grease and sticky oils.
Management: In case of severe infestation to control take spray of Acetamiprid 20SP (@4gm/10Ltr of water or Triazophos@2.5ml/litre or Profenophos@2ml/litre of water. Repeat the spray after 15 days.

• Disease and their control

Powdery Mildew: Patchy, White powdery growth appears on lower side of leaves. It parasitizes the plant using it as a food source. It commonly occur on older leaves just before or at fruit set. But it can develop at any stage of crop development. In severe infestation it causes defoliation.
Avoid water lodging in field. Keep field clean. To control spray with Hexaconazole along with sticker @1ml/ltr of water. In case of sudden rain, chances of powdery mildew. Mild infestation take spray of water soluble Sulphur@ 20gm/10Ltr of water 2-3 times with interval of 10 days.

Bacterial Leaf Spot: It is observed mostly in rainy season. On young leaves the spots are yellowish green, on older leaves they are dark and water soaked. Severely affected leaves become chlorotic and defoliation occurs. It observed on stem also. Stem infection leads to formation of cankerous growth and wilting of branches. On fruit round water soaked spots with pale yellow border is observed. 
To control various leaf spot and yellowing diseases, spray Propiconazole 25%EC@ 200ml or Chlorothalonil 75%WP @400-600gm per 150-200Ltr of water. If Bacterial leaf spot infestation is observed, To control spray with Streptocycline@1gm +Copper oxychloride@400gm/200Ltr of water.

Die back and fruit rot: The branches and leaves get dried and black spots are formed on infected parts. spots are usually circular, water-soaked and sunken with black margins. The fruits with many spots drop off prematurely resulting in heavy loss of yield. The disease spreads rapidly with wind blown rains during rainy season. Partially affected plants bear fruits which are few and of low quality.
Use disease free seeds. Before sowing seed treatment with Thiram or Captan@4gm/kg of seeds is effective in eliminating the seed borne inoculum. To control die back and fruit rot diseases Spray with Mancozeb@2.5gm or Copper oxychloride@3gm per ltr of water. Give first spray just before flowering and second at the time of fruit formation.

Wilt and damping off: Moist and poorly drain soil causes damping off disease. It is soil borne disease. Water soaking and shrivelling of stem occurs. Seedlings killed before emergence. If it appears in nursery the entire lot of seedling may get destroyed.
To control wilt, drench nearby soil with Copper oxychloride@250gm or Carbendazim@200gm/150Ltr of water. To control wilting of plants due to root rot do drenching with Trichoderma bio fungus@2.5kg/300Ltr water, near to roots of plants.

Anthracnose: It is caused by the fungi Colletotrichum piperatum and C.capsici and is promoted by warm temperatures, high moisture. It is characterised by black spots that are formed on infected parts. spots are usually circular, water-soaked and sunken with black margins. The fruits with many spots drop off prematurely resulting in heavy loss of yield. If Infestation of Anthracnose is observed.
To control spray Propiconazole or Hexaconazole @1ml/Ltr of water.

Phytophthora blight: It is caused by the fungus Phytophthora capsici. It is soil borne and commonly observed on soil with low drainage capacity and areas where proper cultural practices have not been maintained. Also cloudy weather is favorable for spread of this disease.
Avoid crop rotation with brinjal, tomato, cucumber, pumpkin for atleast three years. Spray with Copper oxychloride@250gm/150Ltr of water.

Yellow Mosaic: Light and green patches observed on leaves. In early stage plant growth get stops. Yellowing, chlorotic ring spots on leaves and fruits. Select healthy and disease free seeds for cultivation. Avoid monocropping in chilly crop. Raise two rows of maize or sorghum for every five rows of chilly against wind direction. Uproot and destroyed infected plant away from field. Recommendations given for aphids may be adopted. (take spray of Acephate 75SP@1gm/Ltr or Methyl demeton 25EC@2ml/Ltr of water.
Soil application of granular insecticides viz Carbofuran, Phorate@4-8kg/acre on 15 and 60 days after transplanting).
 

Chilly can be harvested green or left to ripen on the plant. The ripened colour will depend on the variety grown.
To increases no. of pickings, Spray Urea@10gm/ltr and Soluble K@10gm/ltr (1% solution each) with 15 days interval during harvesting time. For canning purpose they are harvested when fruits are of red color. Chilly use for drying purpose is harvested at full ripe stage.

This include 1) Drying 2) Grading and Packing 3) Storage