Characteristics of bell pepper fruits cultivated in greenhouse under doses of nitrogen via fertirrigation

摘要

This study was conducted at the Center of Agricultural Sciences-UFPB, from February to June 2004, aiming to evaluate the effect of applied doses of nitrogen via fertigation, on the characteristics of bell pepper fruits cultivated in greenhouse. The adopted experimental design was in randomized blocks, with five treatments (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg ha-1) and 4 repetitions. Length, diameter and mean weight of fruits and number of fruits per plant were evaluated. Significant effects of the doses of nitrogen were verified on the diameter, mean weight and total, commercial and noncommercial number of fruits of bell pepper. The length of fruits of the bell pepper was not influenced by the doses of nitrogen; however, the obtained values are within the standard average for the studied variety. The maximum dose of nitrogen (400 kg ha-1) promoted an increment of 7.3 (increase of 133%) fruits considered of commercial quality in relation to the control (0 kg ha-1). The fruits recognized as noncommercial showed an excellent aspect, in their appearance and hygiene quality, with just their length and diameter below the estabilished standards.