NUTRIENT CARRIERS FOR DRIP/TRICKLE FERTILIZING PEPPERS

Abstract

The desirability of selected primary plant nutrient carriers (N-P2O5-K2O) for drip/trickle fertilizing bell peppers (Capsicum annuun L.) on a coastal plain sandy loam soil was investigated in 1990 and 1992. Soluble dry and liquid fertilizer carriers selected in both years were urea ammonium nitrate (30-0-0), ammonium sulfate (21-0-0), potassium nitrate (14-0-46), phosphoric acid (0-54-0), ammonium polyphosphate (10-34-0), and muriate of potash (0-0-62). These materials in combinations were compared to a more expensive commercially prepared dry fertilizer (20-20-20) which was formulated from urea, mono and diammonium phosphate and potassium nitrate. Although the commercial fertilizer (20-20-20) produced significantly more early and midseason yields of No. 1 plus No. 2 peppers than one-third of the less expensive formulated grades, all treatments produced the same late and total yields of pepper in 1990. In 1992, the ammonium sulfate, ammonium polyphosphate and muriate of potash treatment produced significantly more total No. 1 plus No. 2 peppers than did the phosphoric acid and muriate of potash with either urea ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate; however, no treatment differences were noted in total yields of quality No. 1 peppers.