Yield and fruit quality response of sweet pepper to organic and mineral fertilization

Abstract

Sweet pepper plants were grown in a greenhouse under three different cultivation methods (organic, integrated and conventional farming). During the crop cycle, plant growth and especially yield and fruit quality parameters were monitored to determine the effects of the different fertilization strategies. Plant fresh weight and total leaf fresh weight were progressively reduced, relative to the other treatments, in the organic treatment compared with the conventional, and at the end of the crop cycle these parameters were reduced by 32.6 and 35% respectively. This reduction in growth was directly correlated with plant nitrate concentration and, at the end of the study, nitrate concentration was reduced almost completely in the organic treatment. Despite the important effect on growth, no significant differences in total marketable yield were observed between conventional and organic farming, although integrated farming showed the highest yield in the extra and first class fruit categories. Organic farming increased antioxidant activity but reduced both chlorophylls and b-carotene. Fruit firmness, pericarp thickness, pH and total soluble solids content showed higher values with the organic method, but these differences were not significant with respect to the conventional method. Our results show the advantages of the organic fertilization, from both environmental and economic perspectives, if proper dosage is added to the crop and the demonstrated buffer capacity of these plants, with respect to maintaining yield under nutrient depletion at later stages of development, is taken into account.

A Study of the Consumer Motives which Influence the Purchase of Organic Food in Serbia

“…Production-based quality is often described as the higher content of vitamins and nutrients in organic food (Zagata, 2012), but also as the appearance of the product (Thompson & Kidwel, 1998). Organic food has a greater nutritive value when compared to conventional food (Del Amor, 2007;Amodio et al, 2007). Even though consumers consider organic products to be of good quality and taste, they are often dissatisfied with the appearance of the products (Radman, 2005).…”

Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Yield in Response Graft Bell Pepper Cultivars

“…This macroelement, is considered a potential environmental contaminant, and therefore, the efficiency (NUE) of its rational use, is fundamental for agricultural sustainability and natural environmental conservation (Yasuor et al, 2013;Mascleaux-Daubresse et al, 2010). Care in the application of nitrogen fertilizers in crops, has become a priority in recent years, due to the worrying increase in nitrate (NO 3 -N) concentrations in groundwater, which have been associated with the excessive application of these Fertilizers in agriculture (Del Amor, 2007;Yasuor et al, 2013).…”

Natural biostimulants reduce the incidence of BER in sweet yellow pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.)

“…Sweet bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), an important vegetable for our daily consumption, is a horticultural crop that is traditionally supplied with high levels of chemical fertilizers, contributing to an increased contamination in environmental water bodies (del Amor 2007). The development of new production technologies has resulted in current pepper hybrids giving their maximum yields.…”