Abstract

ALEJO-SANTIAGO, Gelacio et al. Determination of the nitrogen requirement for habanero pepper (Capsicum chínense Jacq.). Rev. Chapingo Ser.Hortic [online]. 2015, vol.21, n.3, pp.215-227. ISSN 2007-4034.  https://doi.org/10.5154/r.rchsh.2014.04.015.

An experiment was conducted under protected conditions using soilless culture to determine the internal nitrogen requirement (INR) for habanero pepper (Capsicum chínense Jacq.) variety Big Brother. Treatments consisted of four concentrations of nitrate (NO₃^-) in nutrient solution (5, 10, 15 and 20 meq·L^-1). The response variables were dry matter (DM) production and N concentration in the different plant organs. The results indicate that a plant produces an average of 357.1 g DM, of which 64.5 % is fruit, while the rest is distributed in stem, leaves and flowers. However, with regard to DM weight, leaves and flowers concentrated more N than fruit, with 2.3 and 3.3 % respectively, while fruit concentrated 1.5 % N. It was found that the NO₃^- concentration in the nutrient solution had a significant effect on the N concentration in total DM, ranging from 1.06 to 2.74 %. The highest yield was obtained in plants treated with the 15 meq·L^-1 NO₃^- concentration, while the concentration with 20 meq·L^-1 significantly reduced fruit yield. The minimum N concentration in total biomass when maximum fruit yield was reached was 2.2 %, a value that was considered as the INR for the crop. Based on this value, the N requirement for habanero pepper variety Big Brother is 5.1 kg per ton of fruit.

Keywords : soilless culture; crop nutrition; nutrimental removal; internal requirement.

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