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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #252241

Title: Chile Pepper Response to Nitrogen Fertilization

Author
item Halvorson, Ardell
item BARTOLO, MICHAEL - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Agricultural Experiment Station Publication
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2010
Publication Date: 11/30/2010
Citation: Halvorson, A.D., Bartolo, M. 2010. Chile Pepper Response to Nitrogen Fertilization. Agricultural Experiment Station Publication. p. 39-42.

Interpretive Summary: In 2008, we evaluated the effects of N fertilization (6 N rates) on chile pepper fresh yield and biomass accumulation following two years of continuous corn production. A polymer-coated urea, ESN® (Environmentally Smart Nitrogen), N fertilizer source was used. Fresh chile pepper yields increased with increasing N rate up to the highest rate. A hail storm on August 29 resulted in severe damage to the pepper plants and developed peppers, resulting in reduced fresh chile pepper yields. Estimated gross economic returns reflected the fresh chile pepper yield. Total plant biomass production increased with increasing N rate. Plant size (stems + leaves) had maximized by about the August 26 sampling date while pepper yield continued to increase until final harvest. Total N uptake increased from 66 lb N/a with no N fertilizer applied to 126 lb N/a with 150 lb/a of fertilizer N applied (highest N rate), resulting in an estimated N fertilizer use efficiency (NUE) of about 40%. Residual soil NO3-N levels were relatively low in the spring before planting chile pepper with residual soil NO3-N levels tending to be even lower after chile pepper harvest. This may indicate that chile pepper was effective in utilizing soil residual N from the root zone or that the residual N was leached out of the root zone by frequent irrigations.

Technical Abstract: In 2008, we evaluated the effects of N fertilization (6 N rates) on chile pepper fresh yield and biomass accumulation following two years of continuous corn production. A polymer-coated urea, ESN® (Environmentally Smart Nitrogen), N fertilizer source was used. Fresh chile pepper yields increased with increasing N rate up to the highest rate. A hail storm on August 29 resulted in severe damage to the pepper plants and developed peppers, resulting in reduced fresh chile pepper yields. Estimated gross economic returns reflected the fresh chile pepper yield. Total plant biomass production increased with increasing N rate. Plant size (stems + leaves) had maximized by about the August 26 sampling date while pepper yield continued to increase until final harvest. Total N uptake increased from 66 lb N/a with no N fertilizer applied to 126 lb N/a with 150 lb/a of fertilizer N applied (highest N rate), resulting in an estimated N fertilizer use efficiency (NUE) of about 40%. Residual soil NO3-N levels were relatively low in the spring before planting chile pepper with residual soil NO3-N levels tending to be even lower after chile pepper harvest. This may indicate that chile pepper was effective in utilizing soil residual N from the root zone or that the residual N was leached out of the root zone by frequent irrigations.