Work

Planting Methods to Improve Stand Establishment, Uniformity, and Earliness to Flower in Bell Pepper

Year: 1988

Type: article

Abstract: Successive plantings were made from August through October in southeastern Florida to compare plant establishment methods and their effects on stand establishment, plant growth, and maturation (time to anthesis) of bell pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.). Direct-seeding treatments were germinated seeds planted in potassium starch acrylamide (PSA) gel, magnesium silicate clay (MSC) gel, plug-mix, MSC gel mix, PSA gel mix. Nongerminated seeds were covered with soil or plug-mix. Three types of containerized transplants were used for comparison of earliness to flowering. Regardless of planting date, the PSA gel mix treatment generally led to earlier emergence and more uniform plant stands compared with the other direct-seeding techniques tested. Fluid drilling with PSA (without plug-mix) typically led to reduced plant stands, whereas all other direct-seeding methods did not differ in stands. Plant dry weights were increased as much as 100% when seeds were sown in PSA gel mix rather than with other seeding treatments. Plants established by transplanting began flowering at least 16 days earlier than plants established via direct seeding. Direct-seeding germinated seeds in PSA gel mix or plug-mix led to earlier, more uniform anthesis than sowing nongerminated seeds in soil.

Source: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science

DOI: 10.21273/jashs.113.3.331

Authors: J.R. Schultheis, D.J. Cantliffe, H.H. Bryan, P.J. Stoffella

Institution: University of Florida

Language: English

Topic: Plant Growth and Agriculture Techniques

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,500