Organic fertilization: An alternative to produce jalapeño pepper under greenhouse conditions

Abstract

The experiment was conducted during fall-winter seasons of years 2011-2012 to determine the effects of vermicompost tea (VCT) on growth and productivity of "Hechicero" jalapeño pepper plants grown under organic and synthetic fertilization in greenhouse. Five different fertilization forms were applied to plants [F1 = sand + inorganic nutrient solution (control group); F2 = sand + VCT on concentration of 10%; F3 = mixture of sand + compost (ratio 1:1; v:v) + VCT on concentration of 2.5%; F4 = mixture of sand + vermicompost (ratio 1:1; v:v) + VCT on concentration of 2.5% y F5 = mixture of sand + compost + vermicompost (ratio 2:1:1; v:v:v) + VCT on concentration of 2.5%]. Treatments F4 and F5 showed an increased yield of 70 and 45% with regard to the yield obtained with F1; the F1 and F2 yields were not statistically different at the 0.05 significance level. The fruit length and the pericarp thickness were increased until 7.55 and 7.01% in F5, respectively. These results suggest that, since there were differences in yield when using the organic and inorganic nutrient source, VCT combined with mixtures of sand + compost + vermicompost may be considered a successful alternative fertilizer for organic jalapeñ o pepper production in greenhouse.