Comparative Performance of Improved and Local Varieties of Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Under Rain-Fed Conditions in Adamawa State

Pepper (Capsicum annuum) is an economically significant spice and vegetable crop widely cultivated across the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The use of improved crop varieties is frequently promoted as a strategy to boost yields and enhance farmer income; however, variety performance is highly context-dependent and influenced by local soil and climatic conditions. This study compares the agronomic performance of three improved pepper varieties (Tatashe, X-Hot, and Tatali F1) with a local landrace under rain-fed conditions in Yola, Adamawa State. A field experiment was established using a randomized complete block design with four treatments and four replicates during the 2023 wet season. Data collected include days to germination, plant height at six weeks, number of fruits per plant, average fruit length, and total fruit yield per plot. Analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range test were applied to identify significant differences. Results show that Tatali F1 produced the highest fruit yield, while the local landrace demonstrated greater tolerance to environmental stress, suggesting its value in climate-adaptive farming systems. The study recommends integrating improved varieties with local landraces in breeding programs tailored for North East Nigeria's agroclimatic conditions. Keywords: pepper, Capsicum annuum, variety trial, Adamawa State, rain-fed