The effect of screen materials on the microclimate and growth of chili pepper plant

Abstract

Climate change often causes failure in cultivation. So, microclimate modification is needed. One of which is to use the screen to ensure the cultivation of chili pepper plants. The purposes of this study were to understand the effect of several types of screen materials on the growth of the chili pepper plant and to determine the best screen material for chili pepper plant cultivation. This study consisted of four treatments; there is no screen (NO), UV plastic screen with 0.6 mm (UV) of thickness, shading net with 50% shade factor (SN), and the combination of UV and SN. The results indicated the lowest intensity of sunlight and temperature occurs in the microclimate was using a combination of UV and SN screens. The highest growth, the largest number of leaves, and the earliest flowering age was using SN treatment with 30.65 cm, 39.88 leaves, and 36 days, respectively. In Summary, the treatment of shading net showed the best material for chili pepper plant cultivation compared to UV plastic and the combination of UV plastic and shading net.