Effect of the Seedlings Difference in Cylindrical Paper Pot Trays on Initial Root Growth and Yield of Pepper

Abstract

This study investigated the possibility of application of the recently introduced cylindrical paper pot seedlings in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivation. The seedling growth, initial rooting after planting and accumulated fruit yield were investigated with the treatments of tray type (paper pot and plug) as a main factor, tray cell number (40 cell and 50 cell) as a sub-factor, and fertigation method (continuous fertigation and fertigation after 35 days sowing) as a sub-sub factor, respectively. The growth of pepper seedlings was significantly affected by tray type and fertigation method showing the highest value at 50 cell plug tray with continuous fertigation, and the effect of fertigation was greater than that of trays. 'Cheongyang', 'Daekwonseoneon' and 'Longgreenmat' cultivar showed all the same pattern in seedling growth. These three-cultivar seedlings were planted in plastic house and in open field in Jeonju area, respectively, and another 'Daekwonseoneon' seedlings raised Yeongyang local area was also planted at the same area. There was no difference in the rooting of 'Cheongyang' pepper at 2 weeks after planting in plastic house. The accumulated fruit weight was not significantly different between paper pot seedlings and plug seedlings in three cultivar grown in plastic house. However, that of 'Cheongyang' pepper showed higher at paper pot seedlings than plug seedlings and the other two cultivar were higher at plug seedlings in open field. 'Daekwonseoneon' pepper yield grown in open field in 'Yeongyang' area was not significant between paper pot seedlings and plug seedlings. In conclusion, the pattern of seedlings growth grown in the cylindrical paper pot was the same as those of the conventional plug seedlings and also fruit yield was similar between paper pot seedlings and plug seedlings even though minute difference among cultivars. These results suggest that pepper seedlings grown in paper pot should be highly applicable to pepper cultivation. Additional key words : raising seedling, production, vinyl house, application, region 서 론 시설원예 선진국을 중심으로 육묘용 용기로서 분해가 능하고 석유화학 제품을 대체할 만한 친환경 포트 개발 과 이용에 관한 연구가 이루어지고 있으며(Schrader et al.