2021, Vol. 4, Issue 2, Part A

author(s)
Husen Yesuf Sirba, Temsgen Begna and Mastewal Gojam

abstract
In Ethiopia, hot pepper [Capsicum annum (L)] is one of the leading vegetable crop: in terms of total production, the share of hot pepper is high as compared to other vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, head cabbage, onion. Likewise, West Hararg he highlands of study site is hot pepper potential area, and hot pepper is a major spice and vegetable crop which has been produced by the majority of farmers since now. However, its production is hampered by many biotic and abiotic factors specially lack of improved hot pepper variety suitable for the study area is the major challenge that affecting the productivity and production of hot pepper crop. Therefore, field experiment was conducted to evaluate adaptability of recently released hot pepper varieties. Treatments were consisted of three released hot pepper [Capsicum annum (L)] varieties (Melka awaze, Melka shote & Mareko fana) and arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. All the collected data were analyzed using R software (R 3.4.1). The combined analysis of variance showed that hot pepper varieties were significantly (p≤0.05) different from one another in number of primary branches per plant, significantly (p≤0.01) different in plant height, highly significantly (p≤0.001) different in days to 50% flowering, in days to 50% fruiting, in number of green fruits per plant, single green fruit weight, marketable green fruit yield, unmarketable green fruit yield and total green fruit yield. According to analysis of variance, the tallest plant height (62.33 cm), highest total green fruit weight (10.68 kgplot^-1), marketable green fruit yield (18.04 tha^-1) and total green fruit yield (19.07 tha^-1) were recorded from variety Melka awaze. On the other hand, the longest (48 ) days to 50% flowering, highest number of primary branches per plant (11), days to 50% fruiting (75.33), number of green fruits per plant (97.67) and unmarketable green fruit yield (1.08 tha^-1) were obtained from variety Melka shote. Thus, among hot pepper varieties evaluated, variety Melka awaze was superior in total green fruit weight, marketable green fruit yield and total green fruit yield. Hence, variety Melka awaze caused extra 16.76%, 17.12% & 15.05% total green fruit weight, marketable green fruit yield and total green fruit yield respectively as compared to hot pepper varieties with lowest result of these parameters. Therefore, as variety Melka awaze is superior over the rest varieties in these parameters, could be recommended for study areas to maximize productivity and production of hot pepper.