Growth of black pepper plantlets under different substrates and irrigation levels

Eleandro Silva Da Cruz,Clodoaldo Spadeto Ambrozim,Wendell Luccas Souza,Leonardo Oliveira Medici,Paulo Sérgio Dos Santos Leles,Daniel Fonseca De Carvalho

doi:10.1590/1678-992x-2020-0094

Eleandro Silva Da Cruz, Clodoaldo Spadeto Ambrozim + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-992x-2020-0094

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Abstract

Optimization of the use of water and the possibility of using residues as substrate in the black pepper production chain can yield economic and environmental benefits. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biometric and physiological traits of black pepper plantlets (Piper nigrum L.), cv. Bragantina, at different irrigation levels and soilless substrates. Plantlets were grown for 120 days on three substrates [biosolid + crushed coconut fiber (3:1, by volume); biosolid + granitic rock powder (3:1, by volume); and biosolid + crushed coconut fiber + granitic rock powder (2:1:1, by volume)] and at five irrigation levels [36 % (very low); 55 % (low); 85 % (moderate); 100 % (well-irrigated); and 126 % of the reference irrigation level (over-irrigated)]. The biometric traits evaluated increased as the irrigation levels increased, with the exception of root dry mass, which was not influenced by this factor, nor water use efficiency, which decreased as the irrigation levels increased. In general, plants grown with a mixture of the three wastes (biosolid + crushed coconut fiber + granitic rock powder) exhibited higher values for biometric variables and chlorophyll content when they were moderately, well or over-irrigated, in comparison with the other two substrates. It was possible to achieve the plantlet commercial standard using this three waste mixture and the moderate irrigation level.

Highlights

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is a vine widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries (Takoore et al, 2019), which justifies its economic importance
The biometric traits evaluated increased as the irrigation levels increased, with the exception of root dry mass, which was not influenced by this factor, nor water use efficiency, which decreased as the irrigation levels increased
Studies have demonstrated the feasibility of several types of alternative materials as components of substrates for plants including: agroindustrial residues (Abad et al, 2005; Fermino et al, 2018), biosolid (Abreu et al, 2017) and granitic rock powder (Paradelo et al, 2016), but rare are those that deal with the use for the production of black pepper plantlets

Summary

Introduction

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is a vine widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries (Takoore et al, 2019), which justifies its economic importance. Because there is no effective chemical control or resistant cultivar registered in Brazil (Benchimol et al, 2017), its control must be based on preventive actions, such as the use of healthy plantlets, which can be produced on substrates free from sources of phytopathogen propagation. In this respect, waste has the potential to be used as substrates in nurseries, which can result in environmental benefits, and prevent the inappropriate disposal of these materials in the environment (Sharma et al, 2017). Studies have demonstrated the feasibility of several types of alternative materials as components of substrates for plants including: agroindustrial residues (Abad et al, 2005; Fermino et al, 2018), biosolid (Abreu et al, 2017) and granitic rock powder (Paradelo et al, 2016), but rare are those that deal with the use for the production of black pepper plantlets

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