Abstract
The use of homeopathic preparations in horticultural crops allows reestablishing their homeostasis and reducing production losses caused by biotic and abiotic factors. This study aimed to assess the action of the homeopathic preparations Sulphur 30CH and Calcarea carbonica 30CH in the phenological development and control of insects and diseases that naturally affect sweet pepper. The experiment was conducted between 2018 and 2019 at the Research and Extension Center in Agroecology of the Experimental Farm Ressacada – UFSC, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks in the field and a completely randomized design in a greenhouse and laboratory. The homeopathic preparations were chosen by the repertorization technique, based on symptoms observed in a previous crop test. The homeopathic preparation Sulphur enabled positive increases in the development of plants and production and diameter of fruits under field cultivation. Calcarea carbonica showed significant results at the height of plants grown in the greenhouse. The presence of caterpillars, ants, aphids, mites, fungi, and bacteria was found during cultivation. The homeopathic preparations showed no evident effects in reducing the populations of these pathogens in attacked plants and fruits, but they may favor the resilience of plants affected by these parasites, helping in the growth after the damage. Calcarea carbonica presented a trend of smaller quantities of fruits with signs of anthracnose. The application of the homeopathic preparations Calcarea carbonica and Sulphur on sweet pepper showed different effects depending on the growing environment.
Highlights
Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L., Solanaceae) is a vegetable that has significant importance in the diet of the Brazilian population, whether fresh or as a condiment
Applications of the homeopathic preparations Sulphur 30CH and Calcarea carbonica 30CH have positive effects on the phenological characteristics of sweet peppers and the stimulation of the vital force of plants attacked by insects and diseases
The action of homeopathic preparations on sweet pepper plants was different according to the cultivation environment
Summary
Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L., Solanaceae) is a vegetable that has significant importance in the diet of the Brazilian population, whether fresh or as a condiment It is a crop of relevant social and commercial impact to producers in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, mainly for coastal farmers (CEASA, 2019). The farmers use a labor-intensive production system in which the economic and environmental scheme of farmers often does not match the reality of purchasing pesticides due to their high costs and the used cultivation method (polyculture), representing risks of cross-contamination between crops, justified by their proximity and diversity In this context, family farmers, especially those who practice or wish to practice agriculture closer to the functioning of natural systems, are a possible group for the application and diffusion of plant homeopathy. Its low cost and non-existent risk compared to synthesized chemical agents qualify it as a tool with a positive social impact and non-toxic to the environment and health of the population (Pustiglione et al, 2017)
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