Impacting Phytophthora Root Rot Severity with High Metallic Content Municipal Refuse on Sweet Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

The potentials of poultry, farmyard and refuse dump manures for management of Phytophthora root rot on sweet peppers, Capsicum annuum was evaluated in pot experiments under controlled conditions. Five week-old seedlings of pepper varieties were transplanted into heat sterilized soil amended with poultry, farmyard and refuse dump manures at 2, 4 and 8 tons/ha. The pots were arranged in complete randomized design with daily ambient temperature 28°C and RH 93% and pepper root rot development monitored over a period of time. The results obtained revealed that plant height, stem girth and number of fruits harvested increased proportionately with increase in poultry manure rates. Pepper root rot severity was lowered 0%, 5% and 57.5% on application of 4 tons/ha refuse dump, farmyard and poultry manures, respectively. Severity was not significantly influenced by poultry manure at 2 and 4 tons/ha. The present study lead to conclude that, pepper root rot severity became ameliorated when soil was modified with manures and these in combination with other management options can be recommended for adoption by resource poor sweet pepper cultivators.