Performance assessment of bell pepper (Capsicum annum) in newly formulated hydroponics nutrient solution compared to Albert’s solution in two different hydroponics production systems

Abstract

The research was conducted in a protected house at the faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, Kamburupitiya, Sri Lanka, during June - October 2004 to assess the performance of bell pepper plant (Capsicum annum) in’a newly formulated hydroponics solution compared to Albert’s solution in two different production systems (coir dust medium and direct dipped method). The temperatures during the experiment period fluctuated between 29 °C - 34 °C and it was above the optimum temperature requirement (26 °C - 30 °C) of the plant. The light intensity inside the protected house was well enough for bell pepper and varied within the range of 9 000 Lux - 65 000 Lux and relative humidity was between 64 % and 92 %. The plant height, number of leaves, number of flowers and fruits, average dry weight of shoots and roots of bell pepper plants were comparatively high in coir dust medium supplied with Albert’s solution. The yields when plants were grown in coir dust medium with Albert’s solution, coir dust medium with New solution, direct dipped plants in Albert’s solution and direct dipped plants in New solution were 275 g, 145.8 g, 108.35 g and 66.7 g respectively. When plant roots were directly dipped, the yield decrease compared to coir dust medium is 58.4 %. It was also evident that when plants were grown in the New solution, the yield reduction was 44.5 % compared to the Albert’s solution. The plants in direct dipped method did not perform well and the New solution formulated for bell pepper needs further adjustments and improvements.