Abstract:

The study aims to investigate the effects of different combinations of fertilizer and water on the growth and nutrient absorption of pepper. Pepper variety ‘Sujiao 5’ was used as the test material. By studying the effects of different water and fertilizer combinations on plant growth and nutrient absorption, the optimal water and fertilizer management techniques for pepper organic substrate cultivation were proposed. The results show that the growth of pepper plants is the most vigorous when N application amount is 0.88 g, P₂O₅ application amount is 0.40 g, K₂O application amount is 3.31 g and the water content is 63.53%. When N application amount is 0.88 g, P₂O₅ application amount is 0.40 g, K₂O application amount is 22.23 g and the water content is 63.53%, the plant stem diameter is the largest. Combined with the previous research results of water and fertilizer coupling on yield, it is suggested that N 0.88 g, P₂O₅ 0.40 g, K₂O 3.31 g should be added to each plant in the base fertilizer in pepper substrate cultivation production, and the water content of substrate should be controlled to 63.53%. Nitrogen fertilizer is the most absorbed in pepper seedling stage, followed by potassium fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer. From flowering stage to early fruiting stage, potassium fertilizer is the most absorbed, followed by nitrogen fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer. Increasing the water content of substrate and reducing the total amount of fertilizer can increase plant height, stem diameter and plant dry and fresh weight to a certain extent. The results could provide a theoretical foundation for further study on accurate management of fertilizer and water in pepper organic substrate cultivation.

Key words: pepper, pepper variety ‘sujiao 5’, coupling of water and fertilizer, substrate culture, growth, nutrient uptake