In order for pepper production to be profitable, a lot of attention must be paid to all the details in production. From the very beginning, producers must adhere to the instructions for the correct production of seedlings, the formation of banks, as well as the advice of experts for the protection and feeding of plants. When all necessary measures in production are observed, quality and quantity are guaranteed.
Starting with basic tillage, up to 600kg/ha of the complex fertilizer SQM Qrop Complex 12-6-24, or a combination of 300kg each of 12-10-18 and 12-0-46 should be applied. Thus, the formula 12-5-32 is obtained, which is close to the real total needs of paprika. These complex nutrients do not contain chlorine or sulfur. As an alternative to barnyard manure, apply organic pelleted chicken manure – Biofert Green in a dose of up to 1500 kg/ha. If the soil has a lower pH value and no carbonates (there is no foaming reaction of sulfuric acid), 250-300 kg/ha of the pH-Plus product should be added to it – otherwise, 100-200 kg/ha.
Formation of banks: Protection and feeding of peppers before planting
During the formation of banks (obligatory for heavier and water-holding soils), the soil insecticide Force 1.5 G (7-8 kg/ha) is applied, with a very long repellent effect on harmful insects, which protects plants from the attack of plant pathogens from the soil (later appearance of various wilts).
The mentioned nutrients can be added directly to the banks, but with about a 30% reduced amount compared to the treatment of the entire area.
Due to more light, clean air and easier manipulation, the distance between banks in greenhouses should be at least 1.7m. Thus, only 4 banks can fit in an 8m-wide building if the pepper is kept on 2 branches and grows tall. In the event that it is grown without pinching with ” P ” profiles, it can be planted in such an object on 5 rows of trees.
A density of 2.7-3 billion/m 2 is suggested for the early periods of pepper planting, while in the later periods and for more generative hybrids, significantly higher densities of up to 3.5 billion/m 2 are applied. On the mentioned 4 banks in the 8m wide greenhouse, plants are planted at 14-18 cm in a row, or at 28 to 36 cm, when planted in tree rows. If the pepper is led on two branches, they are usually separated into two wires above each bank in a “V” shape, according to the principle – one branch on the left, one on the right…
The fertigation system must be adapted to the type of soil (with a larger distance between the drippers on heavier soils and a denser arrangement of emitters on lighter soils). Its purpose is the correct and even redistribution of nutrient solutions to all plants.
A well-nourished seedling should have no more than 4-5 true leaves and must not have developed flower elements on it, with noticeable white crown leaves.
If it is a container seedling, those plants should be planted with cotyledons and only a few true leaves, and the root must be white. If it starts to atrophy, it becomes a good substrate for saprophytes and other harmful microorganisms.
Fertilizing peppers during planting
The optimal date for planting should be adapted to the type of facilities and technology, but it is certainly a universal recommendation – sow later, plant earlier .
During planting itself, 2-2.5 g/plant are applied through the drip system. modern formulation Fitofert Energy Root 5-55-10 , which is enriched with numerous biostimulators and increased content of microelements. An alternative is Fitofert Crystal 10-40-10 in the amount of 3-5g/plant. along with which FitoFert BioFlex L (a powerful biostimulator that supports plant development in the initial stages of development) is applied in the amount of 5l/ha once.
As a preventive measure against attacks, apply by watering the systemic insecticide Amos, or Actary at a dose of 1 kg/ha, which can protect peppers for 50 days after planting. An insecticide with a wider range of action, which acts in addition to lice on thrips, is Tereki (200g/ha) . If a nemato-insecticide is necessary, which works on all harmful insects, apply Vidate (10l/ha) . With the last two products, it is necessary to regulate the pH to 5-5.5 using the pH Green product. Recently, a certain number of producers have been using grafted seedlings to deal with problems with nematodes.
Unlike cucumbers and tomatoes, which can be planted deeper (elongated seedlings), peppers should not be planted deeper than the cotyledon level.
Fertilizing peppers after planting
If plants and seedlings with flowers are planted, they must be removed from the first fork and from the second pair of forks. Thus, the plants form a stronger leaf mass, and later there is less abortion due to overloading, and the fruits are of better quality.
After planting, the plants should be kept without irrigation for as long as possible for better rooting, and that period depends on the climate, type of soil, and habitus of the plants. Therefore, water the plants when the need arises.
In that period, foliar feeding treatments should be carried out every 7 days (later in the afternoon);
Humistart 0.5% + Magni-Cal B 0.3% in sunny weather,
Humistart 0.5% + Bioflex L 0.2% on cloudy days
Occasionally include systemic copper that has no harmful effect on the flower;
– foliar Talocuper in a concentration of 0.2% ,
-fertigation Amino Copper 8 (5l/ha)
These products, in addition to preventing phytopathogens, regulate plant turgor (cell pressure) and reduce curling of lower leaves on tomatoes.
At the time of flowering, pollination and fertilization, use biostimulant product and boron Bioflex L 0.25% + Bormax 20 0.2%.
Apply Firofert Quatro in a concentration of 0.4% in a couple of treatments for a couple of weeks at the beginning of the growing season. (strong PK formula 25-20, all essential trace elements, very low EC of 0.1Ms/cm 2 . This SAR (SystemicAcquiredResistance) product induces systemic tolerance of cultivated plants to phytopathogens.
Preventive protection and feeding of paprika
A complete proposal of protective measures and compatible foliar supplements can be found in the special edition of Agrosvet, the expert magazine of Agromarket’s Professional Service, number 101 from January 2020. The above measures are of a preventive and indicative nature.
Foliar treatments in the initial stages of development should be carried out with 150-200l/ha of water, while when the plants are in full habit, more than 800l/ha should be used.
At the time of intensive plant growth , FF Kristal Pepper 11-7-33, Active 15-5-33 are used as the main formulation, necessarily with Ca-Nit in the beginning, usually in a ratio of 2:1, and later on less and less calcium. Two new formulations from the Energy product line are Complete A 14-7-15+14CaO+ME and Complete B 13-8-24+5CaO , they can be used without additional calcium and after rooting first “A” and then “B”. The only thing missing from these new formulations is magnesium, which can be replaced with the product Magni-Cal B initially, and later with Mg-Max , both foliarly and fertigationally.
Proper use of water-soluble nutrients
For the proper use of water-soluble nutrients, it is necessary to apply a lower concentration of crystals in sunny and warm weather, and a higher concentration in cloudy and colder weather, and the average is g/1l (0.1%).
In the case of peppers, the surface of the leaves at the base of which the first fruits are formed should be washed. Those leaves must be like an average palm and larger, which is obtained by removing the first flowers, regular pinching (cutting off the excess tips) and stronger feeding, which also prevents the flowers from falling.
The amount of water-soluble nutrients ranges up to 2.5 g in total per plant from release to release. In the beginning it is for about 10 days, and later with bigger fruits and for 2-3 days.
The most common deficiencies on the plants are related in the first place to calcium (unevenness on the leaves) or magnesium (lenticular lighter chlorotic spots framed by leaf nerves), and not infrequently excessive yellowing occurs, mainly due to higher pH and blockage of iron and other cations. One of the most important cations in pepper nutrition is potassium, and plants use it most effectively from the product FF K-Complex 20.
This unique organic potassium can be used by fertigation in a dose of 5-10l/ha as well as foliar in a concentration of 0.2% with organic calcium (Ca Organo 30 0.2%) at the same time and without a withdrawal period. This combination ensures better quality and longer durability of the product.
The yellowish-green, lighter color of the tops of the plants is an indicator of the vitality and rapid growth of the plants.
A frequent problem with insects, and especially with thrips in pepper production, is the result of too much nitrogen and not enough potassium and calcium.
On lighter soil and with less organic matter (sandy and light), it is recommended monthly through the FF Humiflex system, or Humisuper Plus in the amount of 20l/ha.
Due to a lot of hard waters with a lot of bicarbonate throughout the region, which are used in tomato fertigation, regular use of pH Green is extremely necessary, and most often in the amount of 100-200g/1m 3 of water, or per kg of usable mentioned crystals.
In cloudy weather, the amount of water should be reduced and watering should be carried out as rarely as the conditions allow. If necessary, sun pepper should be irrigated daily and constantly with a nutrient solution, in order to improve the yield and quality of the fruits, and thus the final profitability. According to most food parameters and ecological conditions, peppers are between cucumbers and tomatoes.