Investigating the effect of coir substrate on the growth, yield and quality of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) varieties

Abstract

Crop yield is the industry standard for calculating the amount of horticultural produce harvested. As a result, producing sufficient quantities of quality biochemical ingredients can help to solve food security and nutritional issues. To ensure an adequate food supply, the use of organic substrate, as opposed to natural soils, is preferred by many growers for greenhouse cultivation of crops such as peppers. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of coconut coir substrate on the yield and biochemical constituents of pepper varieties grown under greenhouse conditions. Two sweet peppers varieties (Sondela and Ilanga) were grown in fertigated coconut coir (experiment) or loamy soil (control) under greenhouse conditions for two consecutive growing seasons in 2021 and 2022. The number of pepper fruits, as well as their dried weight and selected biochemical contents, were investigated. Quantification was done using the concentration of dry matter and selected biochemical constituents from freeze-dried fruit samples. Results illustrated that the treatment combination of coconut coir and variety (Ilanga) resulted in a higher fruit number when compared to other treatments. Biochemical constituents such as vitamins, total phenols, total flavonoids, copper, iron and zinc were superior in fruits grown under coir substrate when compared to loamy soil (control). Therefore, farmers are encouraged to grow sweet peppers varieties under coconut coir substrate for better yield, nutritional quality and profit maximisation.

Opbrengste is die standaard waarvolgens die bedryf bepaal hoeveel tuinbouprodukte geoes is. Die vervaardiging van voldoende hoeveelhede eersteklas biochemiese bestanddele kan voedselveiligheid verseker en voedingstekorte aanvul. Die meeste kwekers verkies ’n organiese substraat bo natuurlike grond om gewasse soos soetrissies in kweekhuise te verbou omdat die gewasse sodoende genoegsame voeding ontvang. Hierdie studie wou vasstel of ʼn klapperhaarsubstraat enige uitwerking het op die opbrengs en biochemiese samestelling van soetrissievariëteite wat in ʼn kweekhuis verbou word. Twee soetrissievariëteite (Sondela en Ilanga) is in twee opeenvolgende seisoene (2021 en 2022) in ʼn kweekhuis in bemeste klapperhaar en ook in leemgrond (die kontrole) geplant. Die aantal soetrissievrugte, hulle droë gewig asook ʼn keur van hul biochemiese bestanddele is ontleed. Die kwantifisering is gedoen op grond van ʼn konsentrasie droë materie en ʼn keur van die biochemiese bestanddele van vriesgedroogde vrugtemonsters. Daar is bevind dat die kombinasie van klapperhaar en variëteit (Ilanga) ʼn groter opbrengs as enige ander behandeling lewer. Die biochemiese bestanddele van vrugte wat in ʼn klapperhaarsubstraat gekweek is, soos vitamiene, totale fenol, totale flavonoïed, koper, yster en sink, was van ʼn hoër gehalte as dié van vrugte wat in leemgrond (die kontrole) gekweek is. Boere word dus aangeraai om soetrissievariëteite in ʼn klapperhaarsubstraat te kweek met die oog op ʼn hoër opbrengs, groter voedingswaarde en ʼn maksimumwins.

Palo ya tšweletšo ya temo ya dibjalo tšeo di bunnwego ke maemo ao a šomišwago ke intasteri go lekola ditšweletšwa tša temo tšeo di bunnwego. Ka lebaka leo, go tšweletša palo ye e lekanego ya metswako ya boleng ya dikhemikhale tša phepo ya dibjalo go ka thuša go rarolla mathata a tšhireletšo ya dijo le mathata a tša phepo. Tšhomišo ya manyora a tlhago ka ntlong ya go godiša dibjalo tše bjalo ka dipherefere go netefatša gore go na le kabo ya dijo ye e lekanego, ke mokgwa wo o šomišwago ke bontši bja balemi bakeng sa mabu a tlhago. Maikemišetšo a nyakišišo ye e be e le go laetša khuetšo ya morole wa khokhonate go puno le metswako ya dikhemikhale tša phepo ya dibjalo go mehuta ya pherefere ye bjetšwego ka gare ga ntlo ya go godiša dibjalo. Mehuta e mebedi ya pherefere e bose (Sondela le Ilanga) e bjetšwe ka gare ga morole wa khokhonate wo o nontšhitšwego le go nošetšwa le mobu wa serota goba seloko (taolo) ka gare ga ntlo ya go godiša ka dihla tše pedi tša go latelana [2021 le 2022]. Palo ya dienywa tša pherefere, gammogo le boima bja tše di omilego le metswako ye e kgethilwego tša dikhemikhale tša phepo ya dibjalo, di ile tša nyakišišwa. Tekanyo e dirilwe ka go šomiša motswako wa dikarolo tša kgolo ya dibjalo tšeo di omilego le dikarolo tše di kgethilwego tša dikhemikhale tša phepo ya dibjalo go tšwa go disampole tša dienywa tše di omišitšwego le go kgahlišwa ka setšidifatši. Dipoelo tša nyakišišo di laeditše gore mokgwa wa go tswaka morole wa khokhonate le mehuta e mengwe (Ilanga) go bile le puno ye kgolo ya dienywa ge go bapetšwa le mekgwa e mengwe. Dikarolo tša dikhemikhale tša phepo ya dibjalo bjalo ka dibithamini, palomoka ya diphenole, palomoka ya difolavonoite, koporo, tšhipi le zinki di hweditšwe go dienywa tša go bjalwa ka fase ga manyora ge e bapetšwa le dienywa tša go bjalwa mmung wa serota goba seloko (taolo). Bjalo, balemi ba hlohleletšwa go bjala mehuta ya go fapana ya di pherefere tše di bose ka fase ga morole wa khokhonate go tšweletša puno e kaone, boleng bja phepo le go oketša letseno.