The Effect of Mycorrhiza Fungi and Various Mineral Fertilizer Levels on the Growth, Yield, and Nutritional Value of Sweet Pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.)

Jolanta Franczuk, Michał Tartanus, Robert Rosa (), Anna Zaniewicz-Bajkowska, Henryk Dębski, Alena Andrejiová and Andrii Dydiv
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Jolanta Franczuk: Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Bolesława Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland
Michał Tartanus: Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Bolesława Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland
Robert Rosa: Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Bolesława Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland
Anna Zaniewicz-Bajkowska: Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Bolesława Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland
Henryk Dębski: Institute of Biological Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Bolesława Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland
Alena Andrejiová: Institute of Horticulture, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tulipánová 7, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
Andrii Dydiv: Department of Ecology, Lviv National Environmental University, Volodymyra Velykoho 1, Lviv Region, 80381 Dublyany, Ukraine

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Mycorrhizal fungi can increase the effectiveness of a mineral fertilizer top dressing, positively affecting sweet pepper yield and quality. For this reason, an experiment was carried out between 2014 and 2016 to study the effect of top dressing doses and the inoculation of the root system with mycorrhizal fungi on the growth and yield of sweet pepper and the content of nutrients and macro- and microelements in the fruits. Root inoculation with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and mineral fertilizer doses were used as experimental factors with the following combinations: (1) mycorrhization: control (without AMF); AMF applied to the plant root zone during seedling production; AMF applied to the plant root zone after seedlings were transferred to pots; (2) top dressing doses: basic dose (100%); 50% of the basic dose; 25% of the basic dose. The sweet pepper fruits were harvested during physiological maturity. AMF inoculation of the root zone resulted in high sweet pepper yields of good quality. In particular, mycorrhizal fungi applied to the root system during seedling production positively affected the pepper yield and biometric characteristics, with fruits of the thickest pericarp and the largest mass. In the experimental units with AMF, the reduction in the top dressing fertilizer dose by 50% and 75% did not cause a statistically significant decrease in the yield of peppers and did not result in a deterioration of the biometric characteristics of the plants and fruits or a reduction in the biological value of the fruits. Despite the reduction in top dressing dose by 50% and 75%, AMF contributed to the accumulation of similar amounts of phosphorus in the sweet pepper fruits. The top dressing dose of 50% applied during seedling production to the experimental units with mycorrhizal fungi resulted in a significant increase in the content of potassium, calcium, and magnesium. A significant increase in the amount of sodium in the fruits was noted in the experimental units with mycorrhizal fungi applied to the roots when the seedlings were transferred to pots. To summarize, the application of mycorrhizal fungi to the pepper root zone during seedling production is recommended because it has a positive effect on the yield and its quality. In the unit with mycorrhiza, a lower dose of mineral fertilizers did not result in a significant decrease in the yield of pepper fruits.

Keywords: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); mineral fertilizers; plant growth; yielding; nutrient quality; Capsicum annuum L. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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