Effect of pig farming wastewater on thephysiological quality of habanero pepper(Capsicum chinense Jaq.) seeds

Resumen

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Objective: to evaluate the effect of pig farming wastewater on the viability and vigor of habanero pepper seeds.

Design/ Methodology/ Approach: treatments (T) applied were T1: 20% wastewater + 80% tap water; T2: 40% wastewater + 60% tap water; T3: 60% wastewater + 40% tap water; T4: 80% wastewater + 20% tap water; and T5: 100% wastewater; T6: was the control (100% tap water). The experiment was established in a completely randomized design with five replicates. Physiological variables and vigor in the seeds were evaluated through the calculation of seed germination rate and seedling emergence rate, as these express the germination capacity and vigor of seeds. Also, morphological variables in the seedlings were measured.

Results: in germination and emergence, seeds in T1 treatment and the control T6 were superior to T5. A similar trend was also observed in the emergence rate, T1 treatment and the control T6 reached the highest values. T1 and control T6 recorded the greatest plant height compared to the other treatments. Similar results were obtained for root length among all treatments, except T5, which showed seedlings with the lowest growth and vigor.

Limitations/ Implications of the study: only five fixed percentages of pig farm wastewater were used in this study; So, it remains unknown about any effect that other concentrations of wastewater may have on the evaluated attributes of seed and plants of C. chinense.

Findings/ Conclusions: pig farming wastewater at 100% decreased seed physiological attributes. In contrast, treatments with wastewater dilutions increased seed viability, vigor, and seedling growth.