RELATIONS BETWEEN THE MASS OF THE FRUITS, THE NUMBER OF FRUITS PER PLANT AND THE AGRICULTURAL YIELD IN PEPPER, WITH INCREASING SILICON DOSES

Abstract

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Statistical relations between the components of agricultural yield and the yield itself after Si treatment as possible non-destructive methods are important for predicting and monitoring the harvest. <strong>Objective:</strong> To measure the relationships between the mass of the fruit, the number of fruits per plant and the agricultural yield in pepper, with increasing silicon doses. <strong>Methodology:</strong> The research was carried out at Quevedo State Technical University, Ecuador in a completely randomized design and three repetitions per treatment. The treatments used were 0, 20, 25 and 30 g potassium silicate plant<sup>-1</sup>. The variables evaluated were fruit weight, number of fruits per plant and agricultural yield at the time of harvest. Path analysis, multiple and single linear regressions, and nonlinear regressions were performed. <strong>Results:</strong> The path analysis showed a greater direct effect of the number of fruits per plant with and without the presence of silicon. Fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, and agricultural yield increased linearly with increasing silicon dose. <strong>Implications:</strong> The best adjustment of fruit weight both in the presence and absence of silicon when it is related to the yield corresponded to a non-linear model, specifically to a Hill sigmoidal function. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>Through multiple linear regression, it was shown that both yield component variables, i.e. fruit weight and number of fruits per plant, have a greater influence on agricultural yield when fertilized with silicon. </p>