Bell Pepper Development and Water Potential as Affected by Soil Water Tensions and Nitrogen Doses

Abstract

Considering the lack of technical information on the water depth and nitrogen fertilization via fertigation in bell pepper cultivation, this work aimed to provide management data for its production in the northern region of Brazil. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at FEIGA / UFRA, with a 1.0 x 0.50 m spacing, in a randomized block design, with a 5 x 4 factorial scheme, with three replications. The treatments consisted of five water tensions in the soil (15, 25, 35, 45 and 65 kPa) and four nitrogen doses (0, 135, 265 and 395 kg.ha-1). There was no interaction between the factors of water tension in the soil and nitrogen doses for any of the variables analyzed. Height of plants, fresh shoot mass and dry shoot mass showed significant differences only for nitrogen doses. Predawn potential, showed significant difference for soil water tensions and nitrogen doses. Ahead of the conditions under which this work was carried out and the results obtained for the variables analyzed for the bell pepper cultivation in a protected environment, we found that the soil water tension of 15 kPa and the nitrogen dose of 265 kg.ha-1 were ideal for the crop.