Greenhouse Vegetable Production: Sweet Bell Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) culture in Leamington Ontario Lecture Presented by: Dr. Ozair Chaudhry, Ph.D.,C P Ag. (USA)., OCT ( Canada) Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute (NS) Con.Ed. Toronto, Ontario and Dr. Muhammed Saeed, Ph.D.,(UK) CPH (USA) Kapital Produce Ltd. Leamington, Ontario September, 2008 Copyrighted. Users advised to quote author’s reference.
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Greenhouse Vegetable Production:Sweet Bell Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) culture in Leamington
Ontario
Lecture Presented by:
Dr. Ozair Chaudhry, Ph.D.,C P Ag. (USA)., OCT ( Canada)
Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute (NS) Con.Ed. Toronto, Ontario
and
Dr. Muhammed Saeed, Ph.D.,(UK) CPH (USA)
Kapital Produce Ltd. Leamington, OntarioSeptember, 2008
Copyrighted. Users advised to quote author’s reference.
Greenhouse Vegetable Production: Sweet Bell Peppers (Capsicum annum L.) culture in Leamington, Ontario
Bell Peppers Production in Gutter Type Greenhouse
Introduction Structure Operation
Planting Harvesting & Packing
Production Economics
Phases of Study
Sweet Bell Peppers(Capsicum annum L.)
IntroductionFocus on controlled, intensive production of high quality, fresh market produce under very diverse conditions Optimum use of controlled variables;Air & root zone temperature, Vap.pressure deficit, Fertilizer, CO2 enrichment, Suitable growing media, and plant maintenance.
Management Goals
Intelligently control greenhouse operational variables to,
Maximum yield and profit,
To simplify the decision-making on dynamics of the crop-environment interaction.
Arches connected with Gutters where 1 bay meets the next.
Typical Gutter type greenhouse(Structure conted.)
Gutter Type (Side view)
GH Structure Conted.
Lower part of roof are gutters (the point where adjacent arches begin or end).
Single bay greenhouse 240 m2 (2500 Ft 2) can be expanded by addition of bays to cover 1Ha (2.5 Ac)or more
GH Structure Conted
Advantages of Gutter Types:Accommodate taller indeterminate cultivars (e.g. pepper attains 3.5m 12 Ft.provide larger air mass easily optimize Env than smaller air mass per unit area of greenhouse
GH Structure Conted.Material
Glass Panels (24 %)*
PLASTIC (76 %)*
Polycarbonate PanelsPolyethylene Skins*As in 2006-07
GH Structure conted.Material
Double Polyethylene Skin has 2 layers, pressurized air filled in between provides rigidity(4 yr.)
Allow light, conserves energy, reduce heat loss in winter
Newer material selectively exclude wavelength, reduce insect / disease
Co2 Source: Natural gas combustion contains impurities
In summer temp hike so, hard to maintain ambient level of Co2, it requires extra cooling
Liquid Co2 clean but costly
GH Operation conted. (CO2 Supplementation)
Optimum GH CO2 conc. Ranges 700-900 ppm.
Rubp Enz. Fix either ------> CO2 : O2
Higher conc. CO2 will favour CO2 fixation
CO2 limit photosynthesis rate
GH Operation conted. (CO2 Supplementation)
On high ventilation, cost efficient conc. of CO2 is 350 ppm, just above the ambient. There won’t be net exchange of CO2 via vents,At higher temp.25 OC, Photosyn. declines, CO2 suppl. beyond this point is cost inefficient,Younger nursery plants have expon. Gth. than older. CO2 enrichment benefits.
Liquid CO2 Tank & Vaporizers
Liquid CO2 at 20 0C, passes through Vaporizers & converted to gas before fed on plants)
GH Operation conted: (Irrigation / Fertigation)
Water & Fertilizer has control on delivery to plants,Both are precisely programmed, delivered as frequently required,Both pumped from supply tanks in header house via hoses to aisles,Small spaghetti tubes supply equal rationing from hose to each plant.
Nutrient Control System
GH Operation Conted.Nutrient Control SystemElectrical Conductivity (EC) gives indirect measure of nutrients / ions conc. to be delivered to plants
Greater the ions dissolved in H2O, greater the current flow and hence, high EC value
EC unit mili mohs/cm or mili Siemens/cm, or micro Siemens/cm
Greenhouse peppers are Indeterminate cultivars therefore, plants continually develop and grow from new meristems that produce new stems, leaves, flowers and fruit.
These cultivars require constant pruning to manage their growth, optimize yield, a balance between vegetative & generative growth.
Seedling Planting
Seedling Progressing
Bell Peppers Production conted.Pruning / Training of Bell peppers
Production conted.Vertical Growth of Indeterminate Bell Peppers
Bell peppers Production conted. Biological Growth
GROWTH
Associated with gth of leaves and branches Generate Carbohydrates
Vegetative Growth
Associated with flowers & fruits Assimilates Carbohydrates
Generative Growth
Increase in Biomass
Bell Peppers Production Conted.Effect of light intensity on Growth & Development
At 340 L, N-S orientation gets high intercept At 500 L, E-W maximize light interception.
Bell Peppers Production Conted.Effect of light intensity on Growth & Development
Leaf Area Index (LAI) ratio of leaf area over the land that leaf covers,Crop productivity increases with the increase of LAI. (LAI 8 is the max value for GH crops).
Highest LAI for Bell Peppers= 6.3, Cucumbers= 3.4 and Tomatoes= 2.3
White plastic floors reflects light to canopy ( add 9 % intensity).
Bell Peppers Production conted.
Effect of light intensity on Growth & Development
In North American winter (Nov-Feb) light is limiting, 16-20 Hrs photoperiod is supplemented.
120-180 W/m2 intensity applied from 400 W sodium light
Bell Peppers Production Conted.
Effect of Temperature Regime on Growth & Development
*24 hrs mean temp. manipulation for consecutive days direct either veg. or generative gth.
Day temp 21-23 0C is optimum for photo-synthesis of GH pepper, (1-1.5 variation Lower-->Veg & higher --->generative gth)
For pepper fruit set, night temp 16-18 0C is optimum.
_______________________________________* Vary within crops and cultivars
Bell Peppers Production Conted.
Seedling/ Transplantation
Seed to seedling ready 7-10 DAP*Receives 1st transfer to bigger rock wool blocks 10x10 cm when difoliate, 2 WAE**Receives 2nd transfer to production GH at 6 WAE, 10 inch tall
__________________________________*[DAP=Day After Planting, **WEP=Week After Emergence]
Bell Production Conted.Seedling/ Transplantation
*Pre-filled rock-wool slab ( 100x20x7.5 cm) has EC 2.5-2.8 m S/cm 21 0C has 6 planting slots on the top,
After rooting in to slabs, cut 2 slit on the bottom for drainage.
_____________________________________*D/N 20/21 0C, RH 70-80, VPD 3-5 gm/cm3, CO2 800-1000ppm. Post-establ. E C= 4-4.5
Bell Peppers Production Conted.Green House Plant Production
1 *WATp maintain **D/N 21/16-17 0C. As such plant is directed to set flowers, maintain opt. Veg. Growth and opt. fruit & yield.
Each plant pruned and thinned to 2 strong stems, twine hung from overhead support wire
Ensure least damage on main stem._____________________________________[* WATp= Weeks After Transplant, ** D/N= Day/Night]
Bell Peppers Production Conted.Green House (Flower & Fruit Set Control)
Opt. Temp. flower/fruit = 17 0C-----------------------yield = 21 0C[poor pollination cause fruit flattened / button if <14 0C N temp.pointed fruit due to hormonal imbalance.
In early winter, precise head heating pipes are lowered on canopy for optimized temp.
Bell Peppers Production Conted.Green House (Flower & Fruit Set Control)
Fruit set reduced > 270C and low RH,
Increased light intensity reduce fruit size[Can be overcome by 10 % shading of GH ].
Lowering Rt. Zone Temp (15 0C) directs plants remain Vegetative,conversely, floral/ fruit abortion.[low light intensity also abort flowers]
Bell peppers Production conted. Heat / Temp Stress
Bell Peppers Production Conted.Insect Pest & Biological Control
Aphid sps. Myzus persicae is the most common and is controlled by wasp parasites: Aphiduscolemani & A. ervi. Aphids become silvery brown with small whole in back when parasite emerges. [Lady beetle is alternate predator used in some cases]ORThe larvae of midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza feeds on most aphids.
Thrips sps.controlled by predatory mites Amblyseius cucumeris.
Aphidoletes midge larvae Lady beetle feeding on aphidsfeeding on aphids.
Thrips Biological Control ( predatory mite:Amblyseiuscucumeris is used to control thrips)
Humidity related disease Powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica)
Part - 3-bBell Peppers Harvest & Packing
Bell Peppers HarvestSeason: Jan-Dec or Dec-Nov.
Mature fruit size= 3.3 , 2.5-2.9, 2.2-2.4 Inches diameter,
Ripens in flushes or waves 2-3 picks/warmer week,
Avg. 3 fruits picked/plt./each harvest,
Avg seasonal yield: 22-28 Kg/M2 (acre = 4047 M2)
Bell Peppers in Greenhouse (Grading & Packing)
Bell Peppers Grading in Header House
Bell Peppers processing conted.Q/A,Grading, Packing and shipment
Post-Harvest Processes for storageRapid forced air cooling after harvest increase shelf life,
Optimum storage 0T=10-12 0C, RH= 90-95 %,[Below 70C cause chilling spots on fruits, also avoid above 130C it increases ripening].