Studies on the Influence of Soilless Growing Systems and Nutrient Concentration of Hoagland’s Solution on Crop Growth and Yield of Paprika Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Author: Seema A.N. and Vishwanath K.

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Abstract

The experiment was conducted at AICRP on Seed (Crops), UAS, GKVK, Bangalore during 2022-2023. Two different soilless growing systems (Dutch buckets and Grow bags) and four different nutrient concentrations of Hoagland’s solution (50%, 100%, 150% and 10% increase in 100% solution for every 20 days) were evaluated by keeping soil as control to study their influence on growth and yield of paprika chilli. The results revealed that, among the treatments, crop grown in Dutch buckets with 100% Hoagland’s solution (T1) had significantly highest seedling survival (100%) at 20 DAT, plant height (165.38cm), leaf area (1591.79cm2), chlorophyll content (56.86), number of branches (28.67), net assimilation rate (0.00083 mgcm-2day-1) and shows early maturity (119.06)compared to control (98.67%, 144.18cm,1110.87cm2, 44.28, 23.67, 0.00058 mgcm-2 day-1 and 120.94, respectively). It is also observed that, 100% Hoagland’s solution in Dutch bucket showed maximum fruit length and diameter (17.15 and 1.60cm), total number of fruits per plant (67.27), fruit weight (6.46g), fruit yield (379.01 g/plant and 58.75 q/ha), number of seeds per fruit (51.00), seed weight (3.17g/fruit), seed yield (16.42 g/plant and 254.51 kg/ha), seed to fruit recovery percentage (4.35%), total biomass (120.82g/plant), and harvest index (3.14) over control (15.69cm, 1.41cm, 55.73, 4.84g, 258.50g/plant, 40.07q/ha, 41.27, 1.61g/fruit, 10.42g/plant, 161.51kg/ha, 3.98%, 91.10g/plant and 2.84,respectively). Whereas, 50% Hoagland’s solution performed comparatively less in both Dutch buckets and Grow bags over control. Chilli crop grown in Dutch buckets with 100 % Hoagland’s solution improved the crop performance, fruit and seed yield compared to control and other soilless treatments. Hence, this could be exploited for commercial seed production of chilli.

Keywords

Soilless Growing Systems, Hoagland’s Solution, Dutch buckets, Grow bags, Paprika Chilli

Conclusion

In conclusion, the above findings revealed that, when the Hoagland’s solution was used as nutrient medium and clay balls and coco peat were used as growing medium for soilless cultivation, chilli plants produced higher vegetative growth, providing that the concentration of Hoagland’s solution and quality of growing substrates greatly matters when crops are grown under controlled condition. The chilli crop grown in 100 % concentration of Hoagland’s solutions and better water holding capacity of clay balls medium in Dutch bucket influenced the performance of chilli plants under polyhouse condition and significantly showed overall crop performance in terms of highest plant growth, fruit yield and seed yield characters.

References

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How to cite this article

Seema A.N. and Vishwanath K. (2023). Studies on the Influence of Soilless Growing Systems and Nutrient Concentration of Hoagland’s Solution on Crop Growth and Yield of Paprika Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(10): 929-937.