Evaluation of chilli varieties for growth, yield, and productivity in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Four Chilli hybrids LCA-620, LCA-625, Arka Meghana, along with the local check Devanur, were evaluated through on-farm testing across villages of Pedhannapalem, Pothavarm, Nadim Palli, and Nagabotlapalem in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, covering an area of approximately 5 ha during 2021-2024. The experiment aimed to assess growth, yield, pest incidence, and economic performance of chilli varieties under farmers’ field conditions. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with farmers as replications. The results revealed that LCA-625 recorded significantly higher values for plant height (170.67 cm), number of fruits per plant (126.33), fruit weight (7.67 g), fruit length (8.97 cm), yield per plant (920 g), and yield per hectare (51.67 q ha⁻¹) compared to other varieties. LCA-625 also flowered earlier (37 days) and recorded significantly lower thrips incidence (27.6%) than the local check (43%). Economic analysis indicated that LCA-625 resulted in the highest net returns (₹3,62,333 ha⁻¹) and benefit-cost ratio (2.77), followed by LCA-620. The yield advantage of LCA-625 over the local check was 39.6 per cent. The consistent superior performance of LCA-625 across three years indicates its suitability for cultivation under Prakasam district conditions.