Yield evaluation of rocoto pepper (Capsicum pubescens R and P) with application of calcium carbonate in greenhouses

Resumen

Objective: To evaluate if the application of calcium carbonate on the soil and to the leaf influences the weight and number of fruits in rocoto pepper grown under greenhouse conditions.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The study was carried out in the greenhouse of the Facultad de Ciencias Agrotecnológicas, of the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua. The Taguchi method was used to develop the 13 treatments, with two factors, five levels per factor, and five repetitions per treatment, using 65 plants under study. Data was analyzed using the quadratic response surface technique, fitting the surface to determine factor levels for optimal response.

Results: Reducing soil CaCO₃ by 9% and increasing leaf CaCO₃ by 100% was necessary to obtain the highest weight in the three harvests (234.8 g).

Findings/Conclusions: A rise in the number of rocoto peppers (from 59 to 70, in the three harvest periods) required an increase in the soil and foliar CaCO₃ by 8.5% and 100%, respectively.