Management of fertigation and doses of N and K in the cultivation of pepper in greenhouse/Manejos da fertirrigacao e doses de N e K no cultivo de pimentao em ambiente protegido

This study was carried out for evaluating the effects of fertigation management and levels of nitrogen and potassium on growth and yield of bell pepper in protected environment. The experimental design was in a completely randomized block, with 18 treatments and four replications. Treatments resulted from the combination of three fertigation managements and six nitrogen and potassium doses. There were six harvests, when evaluations were made of fruit number, mean mass and yield, as well as of growth indicators (leaf area, plant height and dry mass). Results showed that, besides the N and K doses, bell pepper growth and yield also depend on the management of fertigation used. Fertigation managements based on concentration of N and K ions using solution extractors, and monitoring of soil electrical conductivity were better than the usual management. Soil solution monitoring must take as reference N and K concentrations between 200 and 250% of recommendation for bell pepper production in hydroponic system.