Abstract

GONZALEZ-CHAVEZ, O.; BUGARIN-MONTOYA, R.; ALEJO-SANTIAGO, G.  and  JUAREZ-ROSETE, C. R.. NO₃^-/NH₄⁺ ratio in plants of bell pepper with early blunting (NO₃^-/NH₄⁺ ratio in bell pepper). Revista bio ciencias [online]. 2019, vol.6, e548.  Epub Oct 02, 2020. ISSN 2007-3380.  https://doi.org/10.15741/revbio.06.e548.

In the bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production systems, the nutrient solution and the conduction system are primordial to the success of the crop. The objective of the present study, was to evaluate the effect of different NO 3-/NH4+ ratios in the nutrient solution on the growth and fruit yield of two bell pepper varieties, Avante y Tribeka, managed with a system of early blunting of the growth apex above the fourth bifurcation. The experiment was developed under greenhouse conditions and in an open circuit hydroponic system, in containers with a volume of 10 L of substrate of red basaltic volcanic stone. The experimental design utilized was the completely randomized, with a 4x2 factorial arrangement with five repetitions. The different NO3-/NH4+ proportions supplied in the nutrient solution with the same osmotic potential of -0.037 kPa, promoted a differential response in most of the evaluated variables related to fruit yield and accumulated total dry biomass. The best response in the studied variables was obtained with the addition of 10% of NH4+ which is equivalent to 0.75 meq L-1 in the ratio of cations. However, the concentration of ammonium in the nutrient solution had an interactive effect with the pepper varieties Avante and Tribeka in the quantified variables.

Keywords : Bell Pepper; nitrate/ammonium; early blunting.