July, 2019

Welcome

1

July, 2019

Welcome

1

Evaluating the effects of pruning and plant spacing on the production of bell pepper

(Capsicum annuum L.) under greenhouse conditions

By: R. Barhoe. B.Sc. & L. Ori, Ph.D

55th CFCS Annual Meeting

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

July 8, 2019

Paramaribo, July 2018

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PRESENTATION STRUCTURE

Introduction

Problem Statement

Methodology

Results

Conclusions

Recommendations

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INTRODUCTION

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) also

knows as Sweet pepper, belongs to the family

Solanaceae

In Suriname, bell peppers are cultivated in

various vegetable areas, including

Saramacca, Weg naar Zee and Commewijne

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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In Suriname farmers often use small plant spacing when

cultivating bell peppers, whereby plants do not fully develop

and therefore do not not produce optimal

Most farmers also do not prune bell pepper plants

Experimentation with larger plant spacing and pruning

technique will increase bell pepper production and will provide

information and insights to farmers of bell pepper production

in both greenhouse and open field conditions

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PURPOSE

Compare the production of bell pepper in

Suriname under greenhouse conditions using two

plant spacing and a pruning technique

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OBJECTIVES

1. To compare the effect of two plant spacing on the

production of bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

2. To compare the effect of pruning on the production

of bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

3. To determine the yield among various treatments

on bell pepper production

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METHODOLOGY Preliminary study

-Field study: Interviews

-Laboratory study: Soil sampling

Experimentation

-Field preparation and experimental layout

-Planting process

-Crop management

Statistical analysis

Observation and measurements

Data collection

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In the sub-blocks the treatments were:

Treatment 1: no pruning with a plant spacing of 35 x 35 cm (control plot)

Treatment 2: no pruning with a plant spacing of 45 x 45 cm.

Treatment 3: pruning with a plant spacing of 35 x 35 cm.

Treatment 4: pruning with a plant spacing of 45 x 45 cm.

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X X X

X X X

X X X

1A T1

X X X

X X X

X X X

1B T2

X X X

X X X

X X X

1C T3

X X X

X X X

X X X

1D T4

X X X

X X X

X X X

2A T2

X X X

X X X

X X X

2B T3

X X X

X X X

X X X

2C T4

X X X

X X X

X X X

2D T1

X X X

X X X

X X X

3A T3

X X X

X X X

X X X

3B T2

X X X

X X X

X X X

3C T1

X X X

X X X

X X X

3D T4

Blok 1 Blok 2 Blok 3

Greenhouse Open field

Legende

X= Measured plants

A/B/C/D= Sub-blocks

T= Treatment

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CROP MANAGEMENT

Variety used: Mirador

Sown in seed trays on: April 22, 2017

Transplanted in plastic cups for better root development on: May 7, 2017

At 6 weeks transplanted into the greenhouse and in the open field

Two times fertilized( week 6 and 12) with 30 g NPK (12-12-17)

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PEST

Mole cricket

Mites

White flies

Iguanas

Birds

Forest rabbits

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HARVEST

Four times:

August 19, 2017

Sept. 8, 2017

Sept. 15, 2017

Sept. 22, 2017

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DATA COLLECTION

Plant height

Weight of fruits/treatment/plant

Circumference and length of

fruit/treatment/plant

Plant weight and root length

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PRUNING METHOD

The Dutch “V” System pruning

Two main stems by removing the third thin branch

Some plants had two stems, then they were left exactly like that

Two times pruned (week 10 and 14)

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Results

Survey highlights:

-Bell pepper farmers that were interviewed were from Weg naar Zee, Houttuin and Alkmaar.

-60% of them are full time farmers. 40% of the farmers plant only bell pepper.

-In addition to bell pepper famers also plant brocoli, cauliflower, pepper, tomato and eggplants.

-The area planted with bell pepper ranges from 50-200 m2.

The majority of respondents (80%) cultivate in greenhouses.

-Only one farmer interviewed is engaged with pruning of bell peppers.

-60% of the farmers use a plant density of 30 cm. in the row.

- 20% of the farmers use a plant density of 45 cm and 20% use a plant density of 40 cm.

-80% cultivate in greenhouses.

-The farmer that cultivates in open field plants in pots.

-Most problems with Anthracnose. They use various pesticides (Karate,Super drive and

Pegasus)

-All e farmers use different varieties King Arthur, Pemento largo, Siemines Destra and Mirador.

-All farmers use 30 grams of NPK (12-12-17) fertilizers.

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Results 17

pH

H2O EC

Org.

C

Org.

stof

Tot.

N Tot. P

Treatment (1:2.5) (MicroS) (%) (%) (%) (ppm P)

Not pruned

35 x 35 cm 7.3 511 1.66 3.33 0.12 1459

Not pruned

45 x 45 cm 7.2 1050 1.92 3.83 0.15 1135

Pruned 35 x

35 cm 7.4 370 1.31 2.63 0.12 1243

Pruned 45 x

45 cm 7.2 915 1.37 2.74 0.11 1115

Greenhouse

pH H2O

(1:2.5)

7.3

EC(microS) 172

Tot. N (%) 0.13

Tot. P (ppm) 1386

Tot. K (ppm) 385

Org. C 1.44

Org. stof 2.88

% Sand 90.7

% Silt 3.7

% clay 5.6

Texture Sand

Table 1a: Soil results before experiment Table 1b: Soil results after experiment

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20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

45.00

50.00

7:00

AM

9:00

AM

11:00

AM

1:00

PM

3:00

PM

5:00

PM

7:00

PM

9:00

PM

11:00

PM

1:00

AM

3:00

AM

5:00

AM

Tem

per

atu

re (

ºC)

Average T Greenhouse

JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER T 1 T2

19

35

45

55

65

75

85

95

105

7:00

AM

9:00

AM

11:00

AM

1:00

PM

3:00

PM

5:00

PM

7:00

PM

9:00

PM

11:00

PM

1:00

AM

3:00

AM

5:00

AM

RH

(%

)

Average RH Greenhouse

JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER RH 1 RH 2

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

1-J

un

i

17-J

ul

17-A

ug

17-S

ep

17-O

ct

RR

Dail

y (

mm

)

Month

Daily Rainfall (1 June - 17 October 2017)

Domburg 20

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

80.00

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Aver

age

pla

nt

hei

gh

t(cm

)

Week

Average Plant height Greenhouse

Not pruned/35x35 Not pruned/45x45 Pruned/35x35 Pruned/45x45

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22

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

80.00

90.00

Plant

Aver

ag

e fr

uit

wei

gh

t (g

)

Average Fruit weight Greenhouse

Not Pruned/35x35cm Not Pruned/45x45cm

Pruned/35x35cm Pruned/45x45cm

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Plant

7.00

7.50

8.00

8.50

9.00

9.50

Av

era

ge

Fru

itle

ng

ht

(cm

)

Average Fruit length Greenhouse

Not Pruned/35x35cm Not Pruned/45x45cm

Pruned/35x35cm Pruned/45x45cm

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0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

Plant

Aver

age

circ

um

fere

nce

(cm

)

Average Circumference Greenhouse

Not Pruned 35x35cm Not Pruned/45x45cm

Pruned/35x35cm Pruned/45x45cm

25

0

5

10

15

20

25

Plant

Aver

ag

e R

oot

len

gth

(cm

)

Average Root length Greenhouse

Not pruned/35x35cm Not pruned/45x45cm

Pruned/35x35cm Pruned/45x45cm

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0

50

100

150

200

250

Plant

Aver

age

Pla

nt

wei

gh

t(g)

Average Plant weight Greenhouse

Not pruned/35x35cm Not pruned/45x45cm

Pruned/35x35cm Pruned/45x45cm

CONCLUSIONS 1. Farmers in Suriname are using a planting spacing of

35 x 35 cm

2. Generally the plants with a plant spacing of 45 x 45

cm had larger, heavier and taller fruits

3. The majority (80 %) of the interviewed farmers do

not prune, because they find it labor-intensive work

4. Farmers should apply a larger plant spacing for better

fruit production

5. Pruning should be applied in bell pepper production

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RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The experiment should be repeated in both the rainy and the dry season

2. Other bell pepper varieties should be tested under both field and greenhouse conditions

3. Other pruning techniques should be experimented with

4. Other soil types and different fertilizers should be experimented with

5. Longer evaluation of the experiment is necessary

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QUESTIONS?

Thank You!

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