Effect of Nutrient Solution Concentration on the Growth and Quality of Paprika Grown by Fertigation Using Waste Nutrient Solution

Waste nutrient solution (WNS) using non-recycled hydroponics for paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) decreased NH₄-N, but increased Mg and SO₄-S concentration as the paprika plants grew. EC and pH of WNS were maintained well at ± 5% and ± 15% levels of supplied solution, respectively. The paprika plants cultivated by WNS 2.0 dSㆍm-¹ showed thicker stem diameter and higher leaf area index (LAI), but there were no significant differences in the plant height, number of leaf, and leaf thickness. The paprika plants cultivated by WNS showed higher chlorophyll content as they grew. The blossom end rot (BER) of fruits did not appear in WNS treatment, but the occurrence rate of BER was 5.3% in the fruits grown by pepper Hanbang fertigation solution (1.5 dSㆍm-¹, N: 9.4% (A)+11% (B), P: 6%, K: 28% (A)+22% (B), Mg: 3.5%, B: 0.1%, Zn: 0.003%, Cu: 0.0005%, Mo: 0.0005%). The total yield and number of fruit were higher in WNS 2.0 dSㆍm-¹ treatment compared to the others. The paprika leaf grown by WNS had higher Mg and Ca contents. The K content of paprika leaf was higher in pepper Hanbang fertigation solution treatment. The fruit size of paprika classified by weight showed difference among treatments. The medium size fruits (100-150 g) were above 52% in WNS 2.0 dSㆍm-¹ and Hanbang fertigation solution, whereas the percentage of small (less than 100 g) and large (greater than 150 g) size fruits were the highest in Hanbang fertigation solution and WNS 2.0 dSㆍm-¹ treatments, respectively. Therefore, for paprika plants cultivated in WNS 2.0 dSㆍm-¹, growth, yield and quality of fruit could be enhanced more than fertigation solution in fertigation culture.