POTENTIAL USE OF PORK FARM EFFLUENTS FOR Capsicum chinense PRODUCTION

Abstract

This research evaluated the potential use of pig farm effluents in habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) production. This use might alleviate the negative environmental impact caused by intensive swine production systems. Four concentrations of pig farm effluents (ELC) pre-treated in a FAO type digester were tested: T₁ (100 % ELC and 0 % water), T₂ (75 % ELC and 25 % water), T₃ (50 % ELC and 50 % water), T₄ (25 % ELC and 75 % water), and T₅ (standard chemical fertilization, 250N-200P-300K kg ha^-1, recommended for habanero pepper production in the region. The experiment was done in a greenhouse, and irrigation was calculated using the evaporimeter tank A method. The study was established as a complete randomized block design. The variables measured included substrate moisture content, leaf water potential (Ψ_h), fruit yield, dry biomass production and dry biomass distribution. Irrigation with pig farm effluents increased electrical conductivity at the substrate and caused a negative effect on plant water status. Plant growth and fruit yield decreased when plants were irrigated with 100 % ELC (T₁). In contrast, plant growth and fruit yield of plants irrigated with lower concentrations of ELC (T₂, T₃ and T₄) was similar to that of plants treated with the standard chemical fertilization. Even though the use of ELC is a feasible alternative for plant nutrition on habanero pepper production, its commercial use is not recommended in Yucatán, as the pre-treatment of ELC using the FAO type digester does not guarantee the innocuity of the irrigation and consequently of the fruits produced by the plants.