Introduction
Present status/ nutritive value
Recommended varieties
Nursery management
Field establishment
Climate and soil/ land preparation/ spacing/
time of planting/ seeding or planting
Crop management
Weed control/ fertilizer application/ irrigation/
pest control/ disease control
Harvesting & post-harvest
technology
Harvesting/ post-harvest handling/ food
processing
Economics & marketing
Labour requirement/ cost of production/ marketing
Abstracts of research papers
Printed materials in pdf fromat
Chilli is one of the most important cash crops
grown in Sri Lanka. It has become an essential ingredient in Sri Lankan
meals. Percapita consumption of chilli in the form of dry chilli is estimated
2.32 kg per annum and the national annual requirement of dry chilli is
around 40,000 mt. The annual production of dry chilli is about 15,000 Mt,
therefore, an amount of 25,000 Mt is to be imported (Year 2001 figures).
Chilli contributes on an average Rs.750 millions to GDP and creates employment
of 14 million work days annually. Chilli is extensively grown for dry chilli
production, but part of the crop is harvested as green pods. The average
extent under chilli at present is around 20,000 ha, of which 2/3 is cultivated
in maha season.
Department of Agriculture has recommended 5 chilli varieties upto now
namely MI-1, MI-2, KA-2, Arunalu and the recently released variety MI-Hot.
The potential yield of these varieties are 2.5-3.0 t/ha, but the national
average yields are as poor as 0.75-1.0 t/ha. Such low yields are mainly
due to high incidences of pest and diseases, moisture stress, use of inferior
quality seeds, poor crop management and high input costs. The cost of production
of dry chilli under present practices exceeds Rs.65/kg of dry chilli.
A large extent under chilli is cultivated in the dry zone especially
in north central province and the intermediate zone. At present, major
chilli growing districts are Anuradhapura, Moneragala, Ampara, Vavuniya,
Kurunegala, Hambantota and Mahaweli System H. According to the information
received from the chilli farmers in the dry zone, the biotic stress condition
mainly leaf curl complex (LCC) is the main reason behind the lower extent
of cultivation and the poor yield levels reported in yala season. Water
shortage and late water issues in yala season have caused severe incidence
of pest out breaks and consequent crop losses.
Extents (ha) and Production
(Mt) and Imports of chilli during 1995-2001
|
|
|
|
|
| 1995 |
30597
|
21.3
|
10.82
|
| 1996 |
26098
|
18.4
|
9.79
|
| 1997 |
24146
|
17.9
|
13.27
|
| 1998 |
21632
|
15.6
|
19.21
|
| 1999 |
21751
|
15.0
|
20.36
|
| 2000 |
19832
|
13.9
|
23.36
|
| 2001 |
17410
|
12.4
|
25.81
|
 |
 |
|
|
MI - 1 |
MI - 2 | |
 |
 |
|
| KA - 2 | Arunalu | |
 |
||
| MI-HOT | ||
MI - 1
Pedigree : Myliddy X Tuticorin
Origin : ARS, Maha Illuppallama
Year of release : 1962
A tall variety with an erect growth habit which attains a height of
75 - 100 cm, depending on the soil type. It is more suitable for cultivation
during the maha season in rainfed uplands, but it is susceptible to leaf
curl complex (LCC) and anthracnose, and therefore, gives comparatively
low yields of about 1000 - 2000 kg ha-1 of dry chillies. The pods have
a moderate pungency and are green becoming red coloured when ripe. The
fruit surface is weakly wrinkled; the calyx is enveloping and the fruit
ends are acute and strongly tapered.
| General characteristics | |
| Seed (1000 seed weight in the dry stage | 6 g |
| Seedling 10 - 15 days
Anthocyanin coloration of hypocotyl |
present |
| Time to 50% flowering | medium |
| Plant habit | tall and stemmed |
| Stem
Length of stem from cotyledons - to first flower |
long |
| Anthocyanin colouration at nodes | present |
| Leaf | |
| length | medium |
| Width | broad |
| Colour | medium green |
| Fruit (1st or 2nd fruit) | |
| Attitude | pendulous |
| Colour before maturity | green |
| Colour at maturity | red |
| Length | long (10 cm) |
| Diameter | small (1 cm) |
| Shape of apex | acute and strongly tapered |
| Calyx | enveloping |
| Texture of fruit surface | weakly wrinkled and glossy |
| Shape of longitudinal section | narrow, triangular |
| Shape of cross section | round |
| Mean number of locules/fruit | 2 |
| Taste | pungent |
MI - 2
| Pedigree | Selection from MI - 1 |
| Origin | ARS, Maha Illuppallama |
| Year of release | 1973 |
MI - 2 has short plant stature with a compact, dense canopy having the appearance of a pruned tea bush. The thin pericarp of the fruits facilitates drying and the pungency of the fruits is higher than that of MI -1. This variety does well in all chillie growing areas and can be successfully grown in both the yala and maha seasons. Flowering starts 75 - 80 days after sowing and the first harvest can be taken in 110 - 115 days after sowing. From a well managed crop, 6 - 7 picks can be harvested at 7 - 10 day intervals up to 155 - 170 days after sowing. With supplementary irrigation, the average yield in yala is about 2500 - 3000 kg ha-1 and in maha about 1500 - 2000 kg ha-1 . The variety also has a moderate level of resistance to the leaf curl complex disease. The pods are dark green in colour, and have weakly wrinkled surface, and slightly enveloping calyxes. The pods have tapering ends and acute apices. The ripe pods are red in colour.
General characteristics
| Seed (1000 dried seeds) size Seedling 10 - 15 days |
medium, 4.5 g |
| Anthocyanin colouration of hypocoty : | present |
| Time to 50% flowering | medium |
| Plant habit | short, bushy |
| Stem Length of stem from cotyledons - to first flower |
medium |
| Anthocyanin colouration at nodes | present |
| Leaf | |
| Length | short-medium |
| Width | dark green |
| Colour | green |
| Fruit (1st or 2nd fruit) | |
| Attitude | pendulous |
| Colour before maturity | dark green |
| Colour at maturity | red |
| Length | medium (6 - 8 cm) |
| Diameter | small (1 cm) |
| Shape of apex | acute tapered |
| Calyx | slightly enveloping |
| Texture of fruit surface | weakly wrinkled and glossy |
| Shape of longitudinal section | narrow, triangular |
| Shape of cross section | round |
| Mean number of locules /fruit | 2 |
| Taste (when immature) | pungent |
KA - 2
| Pedigree | MI - 2 X PC - 1) |
| Origin | RARC, Karadhiyan Aru |
| Year of release | 1991 |
A variety particularly bred for the eastern
region where mosaic and leaf curl diseases prevent the cultivation of other
varieties as MI -1 and MI - 2. It produces economic yields under low management
practices and occasional water stress.
The variety, later found to be adapted to other chilli growing regions
of the dryzone as well is suited for producing green chillies as much as
dry chillies due to its comparatively long (6-8cm) and wide (1.3 cm) pods.
Its thicker (1.3mm) fruit wall compared with other varieties, results in
a longer drying time. The properly dried chillies have good appearance
when new; however, the colour changes to blackish red within a short period
in storage. For the longer drying time and its susceptibility to the anthracnose
disease, KA - 2 is more suited to growing in the yala season than in the
maha season.
At the early stages of growth, the plant characteristics of KA - 2 are
difficult to tell from that of MI 2. Both varieties have compact growth
habits. However, at maturity KA - 2 produces a loosely compact uneven canopy
with a height of about 40 - 45 cm. The leaves of KA - 2 are also darker
green in colour than of MI - 2.
The average dry chillie yield of KA - 2 under supplementary irrigation
is about 2500 - 3000 kg ha-1 in the yala season and about 1500 - 2000 kg
ha-1 in the maha season. The variety has a high level of tolerance to the
leaf curl complex disease in the early stages of the crop.
General characteristics
| Seed size | 4.5 g |
| Seedling Stem colour |
green |
| Time to flowering (50%) | 83 days |
| Plant habit | compact, with loose canopy |
| Stem Colour |
green |
| Anthocyanin colouration at nodes | present |
| Pubescencre | absent |
| Leaf | |
| Length | 7.7 cm |
| Width | 2.9 cm |
| Colour | green |
| Flower | |
| Corolla colour | white |
| Fruit (1st or 2nd fruit) | |
| Position | declining |
| Colour before maturity | green |
| Colour at maturity | red |
| Length | 8 - 11 cm |
| Diameter | 1.3 cm |
| Shape | elongate |
| Shape at pedicel attachment | obtuse |
| Shape of blossom end | pointed |
| Calys margin | intermediate |
| Cross sectional corrugation | slight |
| Mean number of locules | two |
| Pungency | intermediate |
| Thickness of fruit wall | 1.3 mm (thick) |
| Days to first harvest | |
| Yala | 115 days |
| Maha | 140 days |
| Reaction to pests | |
| Anthracnose | susceptible |
| Thrips | moderately resistant |
| Yield | |
| Yala (with irrigation) | 2500 kg ha-1 |
| Maha (with irrigation) | 1500 - 2000 kg ha-1 |
Arunalu (BL - 39)
| Pedigree | MI - 2 X Santaka |
| Origin | FCRDI, Maha Illuppallama |
| Year of release | 1996 |
The chillie Arunalu has an erect plant type
which reduces the mutual shading of leaves and allows more light to penetrate
through the canopy. The pods which are erect in position during early stages,
decline gradually to an intermediate position at full maturity. The pods
mature 7 - 10 days earlier than in MI - 2 and KA - 2, and has a more concentrated
fruiting habit which enables about 85% of the pods to be harvested in 3
- 4 picks. Pods become bright red and glossy when ripe and highly pungent.
The dry chillies have long shelf life of about 9 months and the red colour
does not change or fade easily as in KA - 2 or MI - 2 in storage. Arunalu
has a moderate level of resistance to the anthracnose and LCC diseases.
It is well adapted to all chillie growing areas and can be grown in
both the yala and maha seasons. Flowering starts at 70 - 75 days after
sowing and the first harvest can be obtained in 105 - 110 days. The average
dry pod yields in the yala season under irrigation is about 2500 - 3500
kg ha-1 and in the maha season under rainfed conditions is about 1500 -
2000 kg ha-1. Higher yields can be obtained if grown in the yala season
under irrigation with good management.
General characteristics
| Seed size - 1000 seed weight | 5.0 g |
| Seedling | |
| Hypocotyl colour | white |
| Stem colour | green |
| Time to flowering (50%) | 80 days |
| Plant habit | erect, comparatively less leafy |
| Stem | |
| Anthocyanin colouration at nodes | present |
| Pubescencre | intermediate |
| Leaf | |
| Length | medium |
| Width | narrow |
| Colour | medium green |
| Flower | |
| Corolla colour | white |
| Anther colour | blue green |
| Calyx pigmentation | abseny |
| Fruit (1st or 2nd fruit) | |
| Position | erect (upward) and partly declining at maturity |
| Colour before maturity | dark green |
| Anthocyanin colouration on fruits | absent |
| Colour at maturity | red |
| Length | medium (about 7 - 9 cm) |
| Diameter | small (about 1.0 cm) |
| Shape | elongate |
| Shape at pedicel attachment | obtuse |
| Shape of blossom end | acutely pointed |
| Calyx margin | intermediate |
| Texture of surface | weakly wrinkled, glossy |
| Cross sectional corrugation | slight |
| Mean number of locules | two |
| Pungency | high |
| Reaction to pests Anthracnose | moderately resistant |
| Thrips | moderately resistant |
| Yield | |
| Yala (irrigated) | 2500 - 3500 kg ha-1 |
| Maha (with irrigation) | 1500 - 2000 kg ha-1 |
MI-HOT
| Pedigree | (BL39 x IR) x KA-2 |
| Origin | FCRDI, Maha Illuppallama |
| Year of release | 2002 |
This variety does well in all chilli growing
areas and can be successfully grown in both the yala and maha seasons.
Flowering starts 80 days after sowing and the first harvest can be taken
in 110 - 115 days after sowing. From a well managed crop, 7 - 9 picks can
be harvested at 7 - 10 day intervals up to 155 - 170 days after sowing.
With supplementary irrigation, the average yield in yala is about 2500
- 3500 kg ha-1 and in maha about 2000 kg ha-1 .
The variety also has a moderate level of resistance to the leaf curl
complex disease. This variety shows moderate tolerance to anthracnose disease
and field tolerance to other fungal diseases such as cercospora and choenopora
blight. It performs well under rainfed condition in maha season and ability
to grow under low soil moisture condition. Storability and the quality
of dry pods, colour and appearance are also better than that of MI-2 and
KA-2.
This variety can be used for both dry and green chilli production. Pods
are dark green in colour, and have weakly wrinkled surface, and slightly
enveloping calyxes. The pods have tapering ends and acute apices. The ripe
pods are red in colour.
General characteristics
| Seed (1000 dried seeds) size | 5 g |
| Seedling 10 - 15 days Anthocyanin coloration of hypocotyl |
present |
| Time to 50% flowering | 80 days |
| Plant habit | Intermediate(55-60cm) |
| Stem | |
| Length of stem from cotyledons - to first flower |
medium |
| Anthocyanin coloration at nodes | present |
| Leaf | |
| Length | medium |
| Width | medium |
| Colour | green |
| Fruit (1st or 2nd fruit) | |
| Attitude | pendulous |
| Colour before maturity | dark green |
| Colour at maturity | red |
| Length | medium (6 - 8 cm) |
| Diameter | 1 - 1.15 cm |
| Shape of apex | pointed |
| Calyx | slightly enveloping |
| Texture of fruit surface | weakly wrinkled ,smooth |
| Shape of longitudinal section | narrow, elongated |
| Shape of cross section | round (slightly corrugated) |
| Mean number of locules /fruit | 2 |
| Taste (when immature) | pungent |
To get good results, the cultivation should
be started with healthy vigorous plants. It needs proper nursery management
practices. Well drained and fine soil with sufficient sunlight are essential
factors for nursery preparation. About 25-30 nursery beds of 1mx3m size
are required to get chilli seedlings for one hectare of cultivation. Sterilization
of nursery beds should be done before sowing the seeds.
Sterilization can be done ;
Following practices should be done to get healthy seedlings
Climate and Soil Requirement
Deep, loamy, fertile soils rich in organic
matter are preferred by the crop for satisfactory growth. Also need well
drained soils with adequate soil moisture for the growth of the crop. Chilli
grows well in the dry and the intermediate part o the country.
Land Preparation
Deep ploughing up to 45cm and rotavating is
essential to get good soil tilth. Raised beds, Ridge & Furrows or sunken
beds can be use for transplanting of chilli seedlings. Two rows beds or
ridges are preferred when cultivating under irrigation. Drainage factor
is essential when cultivating chilli especially in wet season and also
cultivate in paddy fields.
Time of Planting
Wet Season -Mid September to February - South west monsoon - fare amount
of rainfall -Rainfed cultivation and supplementary irrigation cultivation.
In Sri Lanka 2 seasons
Dry season -Mid March to August North east monsoon - receive low rainfall
- need irrigation.
Cultivation start mid April
Cultivation start with on set o f the rain - Rainfed early September
, November -December with supplementary
Irrigation
Planting
Two plants can be plant in one hill
Spacing 45cm X 30cm - Under rainfed (74,000 plants/ha)
60cm X 45cm - Under Irrigation(37,000 plants/ha)
Fertilizer Application
|
|
|
|||||
| Stage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Basal (2DBP) | - | 100 | 50 | - | 100 | 50 |
| 1st T.D (2WAP) | 65 | - | - | 65 | - | 50 |
| 2nd T.D (4WAP) | 85 | - | - | 65 | - | - |
| 3rd T.D (8WAP) | 85 | - | 50 | 65 | - | - |
| 4th T.D (12WAP) | 85 | - | - | 65 | - | - |
Irrigation
Total water requirement for the for 150 days
is 4 acre feet(120 hectare cm)
In early stage of the crop the irrigation interval is 3-4 days. When
the crop get well established it is 5-6 days that also depend on the soil
type and the evapotranspiration of the area. Adequate amount of soil moisture
is needed when flowering and fruiting.
Weed Management
Field- Before start the land preparation it is advisable to use total
weed killer. Hand weeding can be practiced after planting.
Nursery - Should be keep weeds free and hand
weeding when necessary
Pest and Disease Management
Diseases
Pests
Thrips, Mites, Aphids and white flies are the
causal agents for chilli leaf curl
Integrated pest management approach is the best way to control chilli
leaf curl complex.
Use of recommended insecticides and apply in the correct stage of the
crop.
Leaf eating caterpillars and pod borers-use of recommended insecticides.
Harvesting & Post-harvest Technology
Harvesting
Well matured green pods can be harvested
as green chilli. For the preparation of dry chilli, the chilli pods should
be in fully red condition or more than 80% red stage.Under well manage
situation 10-12 picks can be harvested as green chilli or 7-9 picks as
red chilli stage. Harvested red mature pods should be kept under room temperature
for two days for the development of red colour of partially red pods before
expose to sunlight for drying. Laying material ex: tarpoling , mats or
gunny bags should be used to dry the pods under sunlight. Good quality
dry chilli can be produced 5-6 days after drying under sunlight
