Abstract
ABSTRACT Fertigation can be managed using fixed fertilizer doses or by assessing the ionic concentration of soil solution throughout the growing period. This work studied how different fertigation management systems affected sweet pepper yield and quality. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse, in pots. Fertigation was managed according to the crop uptake rate (M1) or by monitoring either the electrical conductivity (M2) or the N and K concentration (M3) in the soil solution. Fertigation management was combined with six N and K doses (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 300% of the recommended dose for sweet pepper in the region), in complete blocks at random, with four replications, and treatments in 3x6 factorial. Dry matter accumulation, yield and fruit grading were evaluated. Fertigation managed by means of monitoring the soil solution improved the vegetative growth in up to 25% and increased yield in up to 20% when compared to management according to the uptake rate. Highest fruit yields in M1, M2 and M3 were achieved with N and K levels corresponding to 127.6% (1.33 kg/plant), 222.5% (1.60 kg/plant) and 215% (1.48 kg/plant), respectively. N and K can be supplied successfully to sweet peppers using electrical conductivity or concentration of ions in the soil solution to manage fertigation. These management systems resulted in high quality fruits and up to 47% increase in N and K use efficiency. N and K concentration equivalent to 200% of the recommended for growing sweet pepper in hydroponics should be taken as reference.
Highlights
O manejo da fertirrigação pode ser realizado com doses fixas de fertilizantes ou por meio da avaliação da concentração iônica na solução do solo ao longo do período de cultivo
Fertigation management by monitoring either the electrical conductivity (EC) or the ion concentration in the soil solution resulted in higher stem, leaf, fruit and total dry mass when compared to the management based on the crop uptake rate, mainly in the higher N and K levels (Table 3)
The superiority in biomass production observed in M2 and M3 over M1 shows the importance of monitoring soil solution, either through the concentration of N and K ions or through the electrical conductivity
Summary
O manejo da fertirrigação pode ser realizado com doses fixas de fertilizantes ou por meio da avaliação da concentração iônica na solução do solo ao longo do período de cultivo. O fornecimento de N e K na cultura do pimentão pode ser realizado por intermédio do monitoramento da concentração ou da condutividade elétrica da solução do solo, pois essas formas propiciam melhor qualidade dos frutos e eficiências até 47% maiores no uso desses nutrientes. Instead of pre-established doses, it is wiser to rationalize fertigation management by determining the electrical conductivity and/or partial concentration of ions in the soil solution, allowing for necessary adjustments along the crop cycle (Dias et al, 2005) In this framework, several researchers have been obtaining very satisfactory results using porous cup soil-water extractors, either to monitor the electrical conductivity (Medeiros et al, 2012; Silva et al, 2013) or the concentration of ions in the soil solution (Silva Júnior et al, 2010; Oliveira et al, 2013, 2015). The present work was carried out to evaluate fertigation management in sweet peppers grown in protected cultivation, with emphasis on biomass production and fruit yield and grading
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