Effects of bovine biofertilizer on the production of bell pepper irrigated with saline water

Abstract

An experiment was carried out during the period of December/2008 to February/2009 in order to evaluate the effects of bovine biofertilizer on the yield of bell pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.), cv. All Big., under irrigation with saline water. Treatments were arranged in randomized blocks using the factorial design 5 × 2, corresponding to five levels of irrigation water electric conductivity (0.3; 1.5; 2.5; 3.5 and 4.5 dS m^-1), and two substrates, without and with bovine biofertilizer. The irrigation was carried out based on the weighting process, by daily providing the volume of each type of  evapotranspirated water, in order to elevate the soil to the field capacity level.. The evaluated variables were seedling emergence speed, normal emerged seedlings percentage, stem diameter and height growth, main root length, dry matter of the roots and shoots and electric conductivity of the substrate saturation extract. The increase of salinity on the irrigation water resulted in expressive losses in the plants emergence and growth, but the decreases
were lower in treatments with the bovine biofertilizer. In the substrate, the electric conductivity was increased as function of the irrigation water salinity level increase , but in lower proportion in treatments with organic input. Bell pepper seedlings irrigated with saline water in soil without bovine biofertilizer did not present adequate quality for transplanting. However, in treatments with the organic fertilizer and irrigation with saline water with electric conductivity up to 3 dS m^-1, the seedlings showed adequate conditions for transplanting.