Effect of biostimulants on the growth, yield and nutritional value of Capsicum annuum grown in an unheated plastic tunnel

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed an increased interest in the cultivation and consumption of peppers. Therefore, new solutions are being sought to provide pepper plants with the most favorable conditions for growth and development. In view of the above, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of selected biostimulants on the biometric parameters, yield and nutritional value of Capsicum annuum fruit. The research hypothesis postulates that biostimulants can increase the yield and improve the nutritional quality of pepper fruit. The experiment was conducted in an unheated plastic tunnel. The experimental materials comprised three sweet (‘Solario F1’, ‘Turbine F1’ and ‘Whitney F1’) and two hot (‘Cyklon’ and ‘Palivec’) cultivars of C. annuum. It was found that the combined application of environmentally-friendly microbial-based biostimulants (BB Soil, BB Foliar, Multical, MK5 and Biocin F) did not clearly improve the morphological traits of pepper fruit, yield or the concentrations of sugars and organic acids in fruit, therefore their use is not economically justified. Hot peppers had a higher content of dry matter, total sugars and L-ascorbic acid than sweet peppers. The analyzed biostimulants increased nitrate (V) concentrations in the fruit of both hot and sweet peppers. ‘Turbine F1’ and ‘Solario F1’ were particularly prone to nitrate (V) accumulation in fruit, therefore the use of biostimulants should be limited in their cultivation. Pepper fruits with the largest horizontal diameter and the thickest skin should be preferred because these traits are associated with high sugar content.

Microbial-based biological treatments improved the nutritional, nutraceutical and functional properties of greenhouse sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

“…Our findings were in accordance with another study that showed the application of biostimulants did not affect marketable yield but improved pepper fruit quality (Arthur et al, 2022). Additionally, the application of microbial-based biostimulants did not improve the morphological characteristics and yield of pepper fruit (Majkowska-Gadomska et al, 2021).…”

Inducing the Growth and Yield of Mungbeans Applied with Different Level of Concentrations of Bio-Stimulant Solutions

“…The study of Majkowska-Gadomska, et al (2021) on the other hand, shows that the application of bio-stimulant did significantly differ in the yield (total fruits) of pepper. (Majkoweka-Gadomska et al, 2021).…”

Effects of biochar and compost addition in potting substrates on growth and volatile compounds profile of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

“…Conversely, in our first trial, as well as in the second one, but just for the Greco variety upon N fertilization, we found the highest SPAD in plants grown on pure peat. There is a close relationship between N concentration in leaves and their greenness; [58][59][60] usually, low SPAD readings indicate low concentrations of both chlorophyll and N in leaves. 61 The lower SPAD values we found in basil grown on substrates with added compost or biochar, therefore, might be related to shortage in N availability.…”