To determine the effect of organominerals and inorganic fertilizers application on the optimum yield and nutrient composition of pepper (Capsicum frutescence) so as to form an effective basis for selection of fertilizer and growth improvement strategy.
Pepper seedlings were subjected to two levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 15-15-15 fertilizer (NPK)  (0 and 250 kg. ha-1), , five levels of organomineral fertilizers (OMF) (0, 2, 3, 4 and 5 t. ha-1) and their various combinations. These were assigned randomly into three replicates and arranged in a randomized complete block design fitted into a factorial experiment. Pepper growth, fruit yield and quality attributes were assessed and subjected to Analysis of Variance. The growth parameters such as plant height and number of leaves showed increasing response to all the treatments as the rates increased. Also the yield components increased as the rates increased from 0 to 4 t OMF ha-1 and thereafter a reduction in the yield was observed at 5 t. OMF ha-1. The optimum yield of pepper was obtained from sole application of NPK at 250 kg NPK ha-1. The combined application of 4 t. OMF and 125 kg. NPK ha-1 gave the highest fruit yield performance of pepper. The concentration of essential elements increased with treatment rates. These were significantly (P≤0.05) affected by the various treatments except for the effect of NPK on      calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). The study revealed that yield and nutritional quality of pepper fruit in the Guinea savannah of south western Nigeria could significantly  (P≤0.05)  be improved by the sole application of 4 t. OMF ha-1 and 250 kg NPK ha-1, and by their combination at 4 t. OMF and 125 kg NPK ha-1.

Keywords: Capsicum frutescence, NPK, organomineral, yield, quality