Colloquium Agrariae (Apr 2021)
Growth and yield of hot pepper under different sources of phosphate fertilization
Abstract
In general, fertilization recommendations for pepper are old and scarce. Because pepper is a semi-perennial crop with high yield potential and dependence on phosphorus (P), an extremely important element, as it participates in several metabolic processes, it is necessary to look for efficient alternatives for phosphate fertilization, due to its low availability and high adsorption capacity in most Brazilian soils. Slow release fertilizers have been shown to be an excellent alternative to conventional mineral fertilization. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different sources of P on growth and yield of hot pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.). An experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in the JK campus of UFVJM, Diamantina - MG, Brazil, arranged in a completely randomized design with eleven treataments (absence of fertilization, mineral treatment, organic treatment and four slow-release phosphate sources: pelleted organomineral, granulated organomineral, MAP coated and triple formulated, at doses of 150 and 300 kg ha-1 of P2O5). Growth variables, fresh and dry matter accumulation and yield were evaluated 180 days after planting. The pelleted and granulated organomineral treatments at the dose of 300 kg ha-1 of P2O5, promoted the best results for the parameters dry mass of root, number of fruits per plant, fresh and dry mass of fruits and total yield. Such results can be explained by the better efficiency of P release and the better absorption of this nutrient by the plant, making it an excellent option in relation to conventional sources commonly adopted.
