Use of seaweed extract on sweet pepper seedlings in the Lower Middle of the São Francisco Valley

Abstract

Vegetables are essential vegetables for the health of the population. Bell pepper is among one of the most consumed and has direct benefits in reducing the risk of various diseases. However, it is one of the crops with the highest incidence of pests. Thus, the need arises to seek sustainable ways to produce vigorous and resistant seedlings with less use of agrochemicals, ensuring plants prepared for field conditions. The use of seaweed extract-based biofertilizers has grown in the market, as it promotes satisfactory results in plant development and does not generate waste. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) on the production of sweet pepper seedlings. The seedlings were grown in a greenhouse and the experimental design was completely randomized, with 5 treatments and 4 replications. The dosages used in the treatments were: T1: control (water only); T2: 1 mL.L-1; T3: 2 ml.L-1; T4: 3 mL.L-1 and T5: 4 mL.L-1. The following variables were evaluated: length of shoot and root system; fresh mass of the aerial part and root system, dry mass of the aerial part and root system and chlorophyll content. The data were analyzed in the program AgroEstat 1.1.0.712 rev 77. T2 was superior to the other treatments, presenting a significant difference for the analyzed variables (except chlorophyll content), showing that the use of seaweed extract is an efficient tool in the production of seedlings from the Submiddle of the São Francisco Valley.