Yield and Antioxidant Quality of Habanero Chili Pepper by Supplementing Potassium with Organic Products

Habanero chili pepper has great economic importance in Mexico, but its production is limited due to different factors that affect quality. Given the high demand and prices of the fruit, the production of this crop is spreading to other regions in search of new production systems. The aim of this res...

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Main Authors: Areli González-Cortés, Valentín Robledo-Torres, Laura Raquel Luna-García, Rosalinda Mendoza-Villarreal, Miguel Ángel Pérez-Rodríguez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-07-01
Series:Horticulturae
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/7/797
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author Areli González-Cortés
Valentín Robledo-Torres
Laura Raquel Luna-García
Rosalinda Mendoza-Villarreal
Miguel Ángel Pérez-Rodríguez
author_facet Areli González-Cortés
Valentín Robledo-Torres
Laura Raquel Luna-García
Rosalinda Mendoza-Villarreal
Miguel Ángel Pérez-Rodríguez
author_sort Areli González-Cortés
collection DOAJ
description Habanero chili pepper has great economic importance in Mexico, but its production is limited due to different factors that affect quality. Given the high demand and prices of the fruit, the production of this crop is spreading to other regions in search of new production systems. The aim of this research work was to assess the yield and antioxidant components of the fruit by supplementing potassium from organic sources. The “Campeche”, “Palenque”, and “Jaguar” varieties were studied in five NPK treatments; replacing the % of potassium with humus and compost: (T1) 240-200-120+50% of K from liquid earthworm humus; (T2) 240-200-180+25% of K from liquid earthworm humus; (T3) 240-200-120+50% of K from vermicompost; (T4) 240-200-180+25% of K from vermicompost; and (T5) 240-200-240 (control, 100% chemical nutrition). For yield components, there were significant differences, highlighting the importance of the nutrition source for the yield and weight of fruits per plant. The control (T5) presented a value of 39 t·ha<sup>−1</sup> and was similar to treatments T2 and T3 with a supplement of 25 and 50% organic K. For the polar and equatorial diameter of fruit, as well as for plant height and leaf area, treatments supplemented with 50% organic K (T1 and T3) were more effective. For the varieties evaluated, no differences in yield and fruit weight were found; however, Campeche produced more fruits per plant with a greater equatorial diameter, while Palenque obtained fruits with a greater polar diameter and taller plants. The results of antioxidant compounds show that organic K supplementation improves the quality of total carotenoids, β-carotenes, and xanthophylls compared to 100% chemical fertilization, since total carotenoid content is improved by 54.2%, β-carotenes by 46.4%, and xanthophylls by 37.8%, respectively. The Campeche variety was the one that presented the best fruits with the highest antioxidant quality. These results indicate a positive effect of the combined application of chemical fertilizer with worm humus on yield and its components in pepper and other crops and show an economic, ecological, and sustainable alternative to the production of habanero chili pepper.
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spelling doaj.art-b1d74eff507f43ba85380aa2633f14362023-12-01T01:35:08ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242023-07-019779710.3390/horticulturae9070797Yield and Antioxidant Quality of Habanero Chili Pepper by Supplementing Potassium with Organic ProductsAreli González-Cortés0Valentín Robledo-Torres1Laura Raquel Luna-García2Rosalinda Mendoza-Villarreal3Miguel Ángel Pérez-Rodríguez4Department of Horticulture, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Calzada Antonio Narro 1923, Saltillo Coahuila 25315, MexicoDepartment of Horticulture, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Calzada Antonio Narro 1923, Saltillo Coahuila 25315, MexicoDepartment of Horticulture, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Calzada Antonio Narro 1923, Saltillo Coahuila 25315, MexicoDepartment of Horticulture, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Calzada Antonio Narro 1923, Saltillo Coahuila 25315, MexicoDepartment of Botanical, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Calzada Antonio Narro 1923, Saltillo Coahuila 25315, MexicoHabanero chili pepper has great economic importance in Mexico, but its production is limited due to different factors that affect quality. Given the high demand and prices of the fruit, the production of this crop is spreading to other regions in search of new production systems. The aim of this research work was to assess the yield and antioxidant components of the fruit by supplementing potassium from organic sources. The “Campeche”, “Palenque”, and “Jaguar” varieties were studied in five NPK treatments; replacing the % of potassium with humus and compost: (T1) 240-200-120+50% of K from liquid earthworm humus; (T2) 240-200-180+25% of K from liquid earthworm humus; (T3) 240-200-120+50% of K from vermicompost; (T4) 240-200-180+25% of K from vermicompost; and (T5) 240-200-240 (control, 100% chemical nutrition). For yield components, there were significant differences, highlighting the importance of the nutrition source for the yield and weight of fruits per plant. The control (T5) presented a value of 39 t·ha<sup>−1</sup> and was similar to treatments T2 and T3 with a supplement of 25 and 50% organic K. For the polar and equatorial diameter of fruit, as well as for plant height and leaf area, treatments supplemented with 50% organic K (T1 and T3) were more effective. For the varieties evaluated, no differences in yield and fruit weight were found; however, Campeche produced more fruits per plant with a greater equatorial diameter, while Palenque obtained fruits with a greater polar diameter and taller plants. The results of antioxidant compounds show that organic K supplementation improves the quality of total carotenoids, β-carotenes, and xanthophylls compared to 100% chemical fertilization, since total carotenoid content is improved by 54.2%, β-carotenes by 46.4%, and xanthophylls by 37.8%, respectively. The Campeche variety was the one that presented the best fruits with the highest antioxidant quality. These results indicate a positive effect of the combined application of chemical fertilizer with worm humus on yield and its components in pepper and other crops and show an economic, ecological, and sustainable alternative to the production of habanero chili pepper.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/7/797sustainable agricultureantioxidants<i>Capsicum chinense</i>humusvermicompost and organic nutrition
spellingShingle Areli González-Cortés
Valentín Robledo-Torres
Laura Raquel Luna-García
Rosalinda Mendoza-Villarreal
Miguel Ángel Pérez-Rodríguez
Yield and Antioxidant Quality of Habanero Chili Pepper by Supplementing Potassium with Organic Products
Horticulturae
sustainable agriculture
antioxidants
<i>Capsicum chinense</i>
humus
vermicompost and organic nutrition
title Yield and Antioxidant Quality of Habanero Chili Pepper by Supplementing Potassium with Organic Products
title_full Yield and Antioxidant Quality of Habanero Chili Pepper by Supplementing Potassium with Organic Products
title_fullStr Yield and Antioxidant Quality of Habanero Chili Pepper by Supplementing Potassium with Organic Products
title_full_unstemmed Yield and Antioxidant Quality of Habanero Chili Pepper by Supplementing Potassium with Organic Products
title_short Yield and Antioxidant Quality of Habanero Chili Pepper by Supplementing Potassium with Organic Products
title_sort yield and antioxidant quality of habanero chili pepper by supplementing potassium with organic products
topic sustainable agriculture
antioxidants
<i>Capsicum chinense</i>
humus
vermicompost and organic nutrition
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/7/797
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AT rosalindamendozavillarreal yieldandantioxidantqualityofhabanerochilipepperbysupplementingpotassiumwithorganicproducts
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