Abstract
A 2-year study was conducted in eastern Oregon to evaluate the effects of hooped spunbonded polypropylene rowcovers and Ca fertilization on yield and quality of drip-irrigated bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. Grossum group) grown on black plastic mulch. The experiment was a complete factorial with four replications of two cultivars, covered and uncovered plots, and three levels of supplemental Ca fertilization at 0, 34, and 68 kg·ha-1 applied through the drip irrigation system as Ca(NO3)2. Rowcovers increased marketable yields both at the first harvest and over the season. Blossom-end rot and sunscald were reduced substantially by rowcovers; the effect was greatest during the earlier harvests. First-harvest and season total yield of fancy grade peppers increased linearly as rate of supplemental Ca increased, as did total marketable yield at the first harvest. Both yield of fruit with blossom-end rot and the percentage of fruit with blossom-end rot at the first harvest decreased as Ca rate increased. Yield of fruit affected by sunscald decreased linearly as supplemental Ca rate increased at the first harvest; overall, yield of sunscalded fruit was reduced by application of Ca at either rate.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
