Efficacy of botanical extract seed priming on germination, seedling growth and yield performance of red pepper.
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Date
2026
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Busitema University
Abstract
Red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production in Uganda is constrained by poor crop establishment and low productivity. This study evaluated the effectiveness of botanical seed priming in enhancing the productivity of red pepper, with emphasis on germination, seedling growth, and yield performance. Specifically, the study determined the effect of botanical seed priming on germination and seedling growth and assessed its effect on red pepper yield. The study was conducted under laboratory, screen-house, and field conditions using Moringa oleifera, Carica papaya, and Azadirachta indica botanical extracts, with distilled water and unprimed seeds as controls. The laboratory and screen-house experiments were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), while the field experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Botanical seed priming significantly affected several growth and yield-related traits (p < 0.05). M. oleifera recorded the highest plant height (51.42 cm), pod width (1.46 cm), hundred-seed weight (25.64 g), chlorophyll content (56.14), number of branches per plant (3.60), and grain yield (3,015.60 kg ha⁻¹), compared with 45.67 cm, 1.25 cm, 23.85 g, 44.18, 1.62 and 2,498.30 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, under unprimed seeds. Yield was 14.1% higher under screen-house conditions than under field conditions. Grain yield was positively correlated with number of seeds per pod, leaf area index, plant height and number of branches per plant in both environments. The study concluded that botanical seed priming, particularly with M. oleifera leaf extract, improved important growth and yield attributes of red pepper and has potential as an affordable and environmentally sustainable seed treatment for farmers. Further research should optimize M. oleifera extract concentration, soaking duration and application methods, and evaluate the treatment across different red pepper varieties, soil types, agro-ecological zones and seasons.
Keywords: Botanical seed priming; Moringa oleifera; Capsicum annuum; germination; seedling vigour; yield performance
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Undergraduate research report
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Citation
Mbabazi, B. (2026). Efficacy of botanical extract seed priming on germination, seedling growth and yield performance of red pepper. [Unpublished undergraduate research report]. Busitema University.