Growth of ornamental yellow pepper seedlings in different environments and substrates

Protected environment and substrate, as well as interaction between both, influence the formation of pepper seedlings and promote adequate plant growth. The present study evaluated different types of protected environments and substrate compositions in the initial growth of “Guaraci Cumari do Pará” pepper (Capsicum chinense) seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, in a ۴ x ۵ factorial scheme (۴ protected environments x ۵ substrate compositions). Agricultural screenhouse with black polyethylene screens of ۱۸% and ۳۰% of shading and agricultural greenhouses with polyethylene screens of ۳۵% and ۴۲-۵۰% shading under the plastic film was used. Inside the environments, substrates ۱۰۰% Carolina Soil® + ۰% vermiculite, ۸۰% Carolina Soil® + ۲۰% vermiculite, ۶۰% Carolina Soil® + ۴۰% vermiculite; ۴۰% Carolina Soil® + ۶۰% vermiculite and ۲۰% Carolina Soil® + ۸۰% vermiculite were tested. The environment that provided higher growth for all substrates was with ۳۵% shading, increasing seedling's quality by ۲.۹ times. In the ۳۰% shading environment, a better performance of the substrate (۸۰% Carolina Soil® + ۲۰% Vermiculite) was observed, while in the ۳۵% shading environment, a better performance of the commercial substrate (۱۰۰% Carolina Soil®) was observed, with greater plant height, steam diameter, number of leaves, dry mass, however, the ۳۵% shading environment increased ۲.۴ times the quality of seedlings with the commercial substrat, regarding ۴۰% Carolina Soil® + ۶۰% vermiculite. In seedling quality, the best substrate was commercial substrat, was ۹۵% superior to ۴۰% Carolina Soil® + ۶۰% vermiculite, in the average of the environments.