Abstract

MONGE-PEREZ, José Eladio  and  LORIA-COTO, Michelle. Sweet pepper production under greenhouse conditions: correlation among plant density and yield variables. Tecnología en Marcha [online]. 2021, vol.34, n.2, pp.161-177. ISSN 0379-3982.  http://dx.doi.org/10.18845/tm.v34i2.4983.

For sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) cv. FBM-9 grown under greenhouse conditions and using two pruning systems (Spanish and Dutch), the researchers estimated Pearson correlations among plant density and the following variables: number of fruits per plant and per square meter, fruit weight (g), and total and commercial yield (ton/ha). The crop was planted on coconut fiber as substrate, and managed with fertigation. There were 10 statistically significant Pearson correlations (p≤0,05). In those cases the linear regression statistics were calculated. Independently of pruning system, there was significant correlation between plant density and: number of noncommercial fruits per plant (r = -0,55**); number of first quality fruits per square meter (r = 0,58**); total yield (r = 0,42*); first quality yield (r = 0,65**); and commercial yield (r = 0,43*). Furthermore, only for Spanish pruning treatments there was significant correlation between plant density and: number of second quality fruits per plant (r = -0,59*); fruit weight (r = 0,76**); and first quality fruit weight (r = 0,62*). It is concluded that the use of a higher plant density is the best option for growers, from an economical point of view. It is recommended to evaluate higher plant densities than those used in this trial (2,60-3,90 plants/m2 ), to determine the optimum plant density.

Keywords : Capsicum annuum; pruning; fruit weight; quality; Pearson correlation; linear regression.

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