Correlative, Climate-Smart Approach in Bayelsa, Nigeria:
Temperature, Soil and Plant Health Indices Using Scotch Bonnet
Pepper (Capsicum chinense) Bioindicator

Capsicum chinense; Bioindicator; Iheoma M Adekunle; Isaac U Isaac

doi:10.56201/ijgem.vol.11.no11.2025.pg78.89

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Correlative, Climate-Smart Approach in Bayelsa, Nigeria: Temperature, Soil and Plant Health Indices Using Scotch Bonnet Pepper (Capsicum chinense) Bioindicator

Capsicum chinense, Bioindicator, Iheoma M Adekunle and Isaac U Isaac

Abstract

Ecological challenges in Bayelsa State have driven the increasing adoption of screen houses as alternative crop production systems amidst climate variability that threatens agro-processing and ecosystem stability in the Niger Delta. This study adopted a climate-smart, correlative approach to evaluate the relationship between temperature dynamics, soil quality and plant health indices using Scotch Bonnet pepper (Capsicum chinense) as a bioindicator. The crop was grown in a screen house in Otuoke, Bayelsa State with sixty-three replicates arranged in a randomized block design across three subsets for 28 days. Soil parameters (pH, electrical conductivity and salinity), temperature data (indoor atmospheric and soil temperatures), and plant height were recorded concurrently on a weekly basis. Regression analysis revealed that the screen house maintained consistently high temperatures, leading to heat buildup that adversely affected plant growth. Rising soil and air temperatures had negative impacts, increasing soil acidity and salinity. Salinity showed the strongest negative correlation with plant height, indicating it was the primary stress factor limiting growth, while soil pH and EC had minimal influence. Effective microclimate regulation through improved ventilation, drainage and irrigation is, therefore, essential to mitigate excessive heat, acidity, and salinity. This study demonstrates the importance of integrating bioindicator-based assessments into climate-smart agricultural frameworks to enhance sustainable crop management, soil health restoration, and food security in vulnerable coastal regions such as Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Keywords

Climate-smart assessmenttemperature dynamicssoil healthScreen house microclimateFood securityBayelsaNigeria

References

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Correlative, Climate-Smart Approach in Bayelsa, Nigeria: Temperature, Soil and Plant Health Indices Using Scotch Bonnet Pepper (Capsicum chinense) Bioindicator

Abstract

Keywords

References

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