LEAF NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION AND PLANT GROWTH OF CHILI SERRANO IN RELATION TO NUTRIENT SOLUTION AND SUBSTRATE

Abstract

Substrate culture may promote crop growth and yield; however, this depends on the substrate properties and the crop requirements. In this work we studied some substrates from Nayarit, México, formed by volcanic rock and by the mixture of volcanic rock with a vermicompost (obtained from sugar (Saccharum officinarum) cane bagasse, bone of mango (Mangifera indica), cattle manure), on a serrano crop (Capsicum annuum L.) grown under greenhouse conditions and irrigated with the Steiner nutrient solution at 25, 50 and 75 % dilutions. Nutrient concentration in plant tissue, growth and performance of serrano chile were measured. Treatments formed a factorial arrangement 3 x 2 corresponding to three dilutions and two substrates, in a randomized experimental design with eight replications. The substrates were physically and chemically characterized. The variables evaluated were: stem diameter, number of branches, plant dry biomass, fruit yield, and leaf concentration of N, P, K, Ca and Mg. With the exception of fruit yield, all variables were measured at 40 and 80 d after transplant. The results showed that plant growth, fruit yield, as well as leaf N, Ca and Mg concentration increased in plants growing in the 75 % dilution; and nutrients reached their optimum levels, except P and Ca. The substrate formed by the mixture of volcanic rock and vermicompost also increased plant growth and leaf concentration of P and Mg, although fruit yield was similar to that obtained in volcanic rock.