Manuring
Amount of fertilizer to apply depends on soil fertility status, and therefore a soil test is highly recommended to determine the available N, P, and K. A general recommendation would be to apply well rotten FYM/compost @ 20-25 t/ha at the time of land preparation and mix well with the soil. A fertilizer dose of 75:40:25 kg N:P2O5:K2O /ha may be given. Half of nitrogen, full phosphorus and half of potash may be applied as basal dose before transplanting. One fourth of nitrogen and half of potash may be applied 20-30 days after planting. The remaining quantity may be applied two months after planting.
After cultivation
Weeding followed by fertilizer application and earthing up may be done at one and two months after transplanting.
Mulching
Mulching reduce weed competition, soil compaction, and soil erosion. Mulching also maintains a uniform root environment and conserves soil moisture. Organic materials like rice straw (5 t/ha) is good for mulching.
Irrigation
Chilli plants are fairly shallow rooted and have low tolerance to drought or flooding. Fields should be irrigated if there are signs of wilting at mid-day. Thorough irrigation provides uniform soil moisture, essential for optimum plant and fruit growth. Furrow or drip irrigation are recommended; overhead irrigation should be avoided as wet leaves and fruits promote disease development. If overhead irrigation must be used, apply early in the day so that leaves are dry before nightfall. However, chilli plants cannot tolerate flooding and fields should be drained quickly after heavy rain. The plants will generally wilt and die if they stand in water for more than 48 hours. Phytophtora blight and bacterial wilt may cause total crop loss following prolonged flooding.
Controlling weeds
Mulching provides adequate protection against weed growth. However, if mulch is not available, or does not provide adequate weed control, manual weeding or chemical weeding can be resorted to.
Staking
Stake the plants to prevent lodging, particularly when they have a heavy load of fruits. Each plant is individually staked before flowering stage. Yields are generally higher with staking.