Growth of Ornamental Yellow Pepper Seedlings in Different Environments and Substrates

Leiser Araujo, Suleiman; Pacheco De Almeida Prado Bortolheiro, Fernanda; Layane Duarte, Ítala; Pereira Da Silva, Kelly Gabriela; Battistuzi Martins, Murilo; Costa, Edilson; Pradi Vendruscolo, Eduardo; Silva Ribeiro, Fernanda Cristina

doi:10.22059/ijhst.2024.364560.691

Growth of Ornamental Yellow Pepper Seedlings in Different Environments and Substrates

Document Type : Research paper

Authors

Suleiman Leiser Araujo

Fernanda Pacheco de Almeida Prado Bortolheiro

Ítala Layane Duarte

Kelly Gabriela Pereira da Silva

Murilo Battistuzi Martins

Edilson Costa

Eduardo Pradi Vendruscolo

Fernanda Cristina Silva Ribeiro

Mato Grosso do Sul State University, MS 306 Road, km 64, 79540-000, Cassilândia, Brazil

10.22059/ijhst.2024.364560.691

Abstract

Protected environment and substrate, as well as interaction between both, influence the formation of pepper seedlings and promote adequate plant growth. The present study evaluated different types of protected environments and substrate compositions in the initial growth of “Guaraci Cumari do Pará” pepper (Capsicum chinense) seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, in a 4 x 5 factorial scheme (4 protected environments x 5 substrate compositions). Agricultural screenhouses with black polyethylene screens of 18% and 30% shading and agricultural greenhouses with polyethylene screens of 35% and 42-50% shading under the plastic film were used. In the environments, substrates 100% Carolina Soil® + 0% vermiculite, 80% Carolina Soil® + 20% vermiculite, 60% Carolina Soil® + 40% vermiculite; 40% Carolina Soil® + 60% vermiculite and 20% Carolina Soil® + 80% vermiculite were tested. The environment that provided higher growth for all substrates was with 35% shading, which increased seedling quality 2.9 times. In the 30% shading environment, better performance of the substrate (80% Carolina Soil® + 20% vermiculite) was observed, while in the 35% shading environment, better performance of the commercial substrate (100% Carolina Soil®) was observed, with greater plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, and dry biomass. However, the 35% shading environment increased 2.4 times the quality of seedlings with the commercial substrate, regarding 40% Carolina Soil® + 60% vermiculite. Regarding seedling quality, the best substrate was the commercial substrate, i.e., 95% superior to 40% Carolina Soil® + 60% vermiculite in the average environment.

Keywords

Capsicum chinense

Greenhouses

Organo-mineral substrate

Screenhouses