FAS Abstracts 2004 Meeting Page

Agricultural Sciences (AGR): AGR-12

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Mulch effects on growth and yield parameters of Scotch Bonnet hot pepper. G. QUEELEY, and C. GARDNER. Division of Agricultural Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307. Field studies were conducted on a Lakeland Sandy Loam soil in north Florida, during the 1999,  2000 and 2003 growing seasons to evaluate the effect of bahia grass (Paspalum notatum L) mulch, black plastic mulch and a control (bare soil) on growth and yield parameters of the Scotch Bonnet hot pepper (Capsicum chinense L). The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block with 4 replications. Data on fruit size, fruits plant^-1, marketable fruits ha^–1, root and shoot development, above ground dry matter (DM) and plant tissue analysis were collected.    For all 3 years of the study, there was a trend for the bahia grass mulch treatment to produce larger fruits, more fruits plant^-1 and higher yield ha^-1 compared to the control and black plastic mulch treatments.  However, significant differences (p < 0.01) among these treatments for yield parameters were observed only in the final year of the study. There was no difference in root and shoot DM and root length between plants from the bahia grass treatment and the control.  However, these parameters were significantly lower (p < 0.01) for plants grown on black plastic mulch compared to the control.  The study indicates that compared to black plastic mulch, bahia grass mulch will contribute to better plant development and fruit yields in Scotch Bonnet hot pepper.