The Impact of Different Fertilization Formulas on Pepper Production

Abstract: In order to implement healthy pepper cultivation, reduce chemical fertilizer application, and increase farmers' income, a study on different fertilization formulas for peppers was carried out. The results showed that the application of bio-organic fertilizers combined with special vegetable fertilizers, organic fertilizers combined with special vegetable fertilizers, organic-inorganic vegetable fertilizers, and special vegetable fertilizers had a significantly higher yield-increasing effect compared with conventional fertilization. Reasonable fertilization suggestions for pepper cultivation were explored.
Keywords: Pepper; Fertilization; Research

1.Experimental Methods and Design

1.1 Selection of the Experimental Field

The experiment was set up in the vegetable field of Yu Qianhong in Baozhen Village, Hejiaping Town, Changyang County. The soil type is brown soil. The soil nutrient detection indicators are: available nitrogen 173 mg/kg, available phosphorus 21.8 mg/kg, available potassium 180 mg/kg, organic matter 27.7 g/kg, and pH value 4.5. The previous crop was Chinese cabbage.

1.2 Experimental Design

A comparative experiment was carried out under the condition of equal nutrient content with different formulas. Five treatments were set up with three replicates arranged randomly. The plot area was 44.5 ㎡. The pepper variety was Luosijiao Wang provided by Lianfeng Seed Industry Co., Ltd. in Xiaoxian County, Anhui Province. The experiment was carried out under the same conditions of seeds, film mulching, pest control, and cultivation management measures. Sowing and seedling raising were carried out on April 6, 2017, and transplanting was carried out on May 12. The planting density was 0.8 m in row spacing and 0.35 m in plant spacing. Ridges were made and covered with films, and two rows were planted. 4,760 plants were planted per 667 ㎡. The harvest was completed by staged picking on October 14.

1.3 Tested Fertilizers

15% all-element bio-organic fertilizer (9 - 2 - 4:25), 6% organic fertilizer (3 - 1 - 2:45), 30% organic special vegetable fertilizer (15 - 6 - 9:15), 30% inorganic special vegetable fertilizer (15 - 6 - 9)[1], and 45% Ezhong compound fertilizer (15 - 15 - 15) produced by Hubei "Yishizhuang" Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. Before sowing, the bio-fertilizers, organic fertilizers, various special fertilizers, and compound fertilizers were applied in the furrows of each plot, ridges were raised, and films were covered. At the initial fruit stage, 15 kg of urea and 15 kg of potassium sulfate were top-dressed per 667 ㎡ in equal amounts. The nutrient ratios of different plots are shown in Table 1.

2.Experimental Results and Analysis

2.1 The Impact of Different Treatments on Pepper Yield

The yield of each plot was calculated according to the sold commercial peppers in batches. The yield results of the pepper experiment are shown in Table 2. Under the condition of continuous over 40 days of rainy and low-light weather, an ideal yield was still obtained.

2.2 Statistical Analysis of Yield Results

Analysis of variance was carried out on the yield results of each plot [2]. The F-value test is shown in Table 3. The differences between treatments were extremely significant, and the differences between replicates were significant, indicating that different fertilization formulas had a significant yield-increasing effect.

The standard error of a single mean was calculated as: SE = 0.949

According to v = 8, when looking up the SSR table for p = 2, 3, 4, 5, the SSR0.05 and SSR0.01 values were obtained. Multiplying the SSR values by the SE value respectively, the LSR values were obtained and listed in Table 4.

The new multiple range method was used to conduct multiple comparisons of the differences between treatments. The results are shown in Table 5. The difference between the all-element bio-fertilizer and the organic fertilizer treatment was extremely significant. The difference between the organic fertilizer and the organic-inorganic vegetable fertilizer treatment was not significant. The difference between the organic-inorganic vegetable fertilizer and the inorganic vegetable fertilizer treatment was extremely significant. The difference between the inorganic vegetable fertilizer and the general fertilizer treatment was extremely significant. This shows that the "Yishizhuang" series of vegetable fertilizers had an extremely significant yield-increasing effect compared with the general fertilizer (equal nutrient formula).

2.3 The Impact of Different Treatments on the Economic Benefits of Peppers

The real-time selling price was 2.20 yuan/kg. The comparison of the economic benefits of different fertilization treatments is shown in Table 6. The economic benefit of the all-element bio-fertilizer treatment was the highest, with a net income increase of 1,256 yuan per mu compared with the general fertilizer. The organic fertilizer treatment was the second, with a net income increase of 620 yuan per mu compared with the general fertilizer. The organic-inorganic vegetable fertilizer treatment ranked third, with a net income increase of 560 yuan per mu compared with the general fertilizer. The inorganic vegetable fertilizer treatment ranked fourth, with a net income increase of 352 yuan per mu compared with the general fertilizer. Different fertilizer formulas had a great impact on the yield and economic benefits of peppers.

3.Conclusions

Reasonable selection of fertilizers is an important link for vegetable farmers to increase production and income. Continuous product innovation and providing high-quality products are the conscience of enterprises. Vegetables are crops with high fertilizer requirements. Currently, the phenomenon of random fertilization is prominent, which not only deteriorates the soil environment but also reduces farmers' income [3]. It is urgent to steadily and reasonably reduce chemical fertilizers. The application of qualified bio-fertilizers is the best choice, and using bio-bacteria to activate and repair the soil ecology is a good strategy. Increasing the application of organic fertilizers [4] and using organic-inorganic combined fertilizers is a long-term solution. It can not only improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil but also improve the utilization rate of fertilizers. The application of organic fertilizers must be emphasized. Special fertilizers are formulated according to the growth needs of crops, and appropriate amounts of sensitive medium and trace elements are added [5] to minimize the waste and loss of fertilizers. A single formula for all (equal nutrient formula) is far from meeting the needs of production. Developing bio-fertilizers, widely exploring organic fertilizers, customizing special fertilizers, and using water-soluble fertilizers are the development directions of sustainable agriculture. The series of vegetable fertilizers developed by Hubei Yishizhuang Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. are worthy of demonstration and promotion.

References:

[1] Zhao Yitao. Soil and Fertilizer Science [M]. Beijing: China Chemical Industry Press, 2009.

[2] Gai Junyi. Experimental Statistical Methods [M]. Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 2000

[3] Zhang Zhenxian. Vegetable Cultivation [M]. Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 2003.

[4] Gao Xiangzhao. Practical Handbook of Fertilizers [M]. Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 2002.

[5] Wang Xiaoxue. Reasonable Fertilization of Vegetables [M]. Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 1997.