Role of foliar dressing to increase sweet pepper productivity grown in open ground against the background of basic fertilization and soil dressing

Abstract

Vegetable production directly near the consumer or processing site is an important element in providing the population with quality products. The research goal is to determine the role of foliar dressing in increasing the productivity of sweet pepper when grown in open ground in the Tambov Region. The research was carried out in 2023 and 2024 on the experimental plots of the greenhouse complex UITK “Roshcha” of the Michurinsk State Agricultural University. The research targets were the following F₁ hybrids: Zvezda Vostoka oranzhevaya, Marshal, Feldmarshal Suvorov, Knyaz Igor, and Beliy Naliv (control) distinguished as early maturing and high-yielding ones. The research subjects were mineral water-soluble fertilizers Fertika Lux and Rastvorin used as foliar dressing. The standard, generally accepted methods for vegetable growing were used in the research. When analyzing the conditions of the study, the risks associated with unstable weather conditions during vegetable crop growing season were taken into account: late spring and early autumn frosts. The use of foliar dressing with mineral fertilizers had a positive effect on the crop yields. The highest yields of sweet pepper were obtained in the variants with the application of Fertika Lux fertilizer as foliar dressing for all the studied hybrids. Its application stimulated plant growth and reduced the impact of unfavorable factors. Even under unstable weather conditions of the region, when using a complex of water-soluble fertilizers, it is possible to obtain yields of over 70 t ha of pepper fruits; that is comparable with those in the southern regions of the country. An important element of the technology is the use of early-ripening varieties and hybrids of the crop. The highest yields were obtained when growing hybrids Zvezda Vostoka oranzhevaya F₁ (76.00 t ha), Marshal F₁ (79.05 t ha), and Knyaz Igor F₁ (66.05 t ha).