THE EFFECT OF 'SOAR' BIOSTIMULANTS ON FRUIT YIELD OF BELL PEPPERS IN CONSECUTIVE SEASONS

摘要

Seaweed-based 'SOAR' biostimulants, 'Micro Mix' and 'Bloom Spray' were applied at two rates, 4.68L/ha and 7.02L/ha on bell pepper cultivars 'Wizard X3R' in Spring 2004 and Fall 2005, and on 'Aristotle' in Spring and Fall 2006, and Fall 2007, in replicated trials to investigate the effect of biostimulant effects on fruit yield and fruit size. The trials were conducted in west-central Florida on light sandy soils. Production system was the conventional full-bed polyethylene mulch with seepage-(modifiedfurrow-) irrigation in Spring 2004, Fall 2005 and Spring 2006, and micro- (drip-) irrigations in Fall 2006 and Fall 2007. In every season, yield of U.S. Fancy grade fruit was higher with 'SOAR' than with control treatment. The higher yields were due toa larger number of U.S. Fancy grade fruit rather than heavier weight per fruit.