GROWTH CHARACTERS OF SWEET PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.) CULTIVARS AS INFLUENCED BY WEEDING AND SPRAYING REGIMES USING NEEM LEAF EXTRACT IN THE SUDAN SAVANNA OF NIGERIA

Three field trials were conducted in 2016/2017, 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 dry seasons at Zakirai, Gabasawa Local Government, Kano State to study the growth of sweet pepper cultivars as influenced by weeding and spraying using neem leaf extract in the sudan savanna, Nigeria. The experiment consisted of four cultivars of sweet pepper (Dan Alko, California Wonder, Dan Damasak and Yolo Wonder), three hoe weeding (Weedy check, 3 and 6 weeks after transplanting) and four spraying regimes (0,4,6 and 8 weeks after transplanting) which were factorially combined and laid out in a split plot design and replicated three times. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, crop growth rate, and total dry matter. The result of the study shows that 2017/2018 dry season had significantly increased plant height, number of branches and leaves, as compared to the corresponding seasons. Dan Alko and Dan Damasak produced significantly higher mean value of crop growth rate and total dry matter both at 12 WAT. It also revealed that weeding regimes at 6WAT gave highest number of branched at 12WAT. The use of neem leaf extract was found to be effective on number of leaves only at 4WAT.