ORGANIC TECHNOLOGICAL ALTERNATIVES IN SWEET PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.) PRODUCTION DURING THE DRY SEASON

Abstract

Conventional management and organic alternatives were evaluated to contribute with the sweet pepper production system, in 500 m² for each management in El Ejido Experimental Station, between the months of November 2013 and April 2014 in Los Santos province. The organic fertilization based on 5,0 t.ha^-1 of earthworm humus and the management of insect pests with vegetable extracts of Azadirachta indica and Gliricidia sepium were included as organic alternatives. The dependent variables were percentage of plant mortality at 15 and 30 days after transplanting, number of damaged fruits per plant, chemical characteristics of the soil and yield in kilograms per hectare. In addition, an analysis of the marginal rate of return was carried out, considering the market price of the fruit from a conventional management and with organic alternatives. The percentage of plant mortality in both treatments was 3%. With organic management, the pH and calcium content were positively improved. In the kilograms per hectare the analysis presented a highly significant difference (P <0,0011), in the conventional management reached 19277,6 kg.ha^-1, 4331,7 kg more than with organic alternatives (14945,9 kg.ha^-1). The mortality of plants caused by soil pathogens and damaged fruits per plant, were not determining factors in the yield in kilograms per hectare. The complete basic fertilization in conventional management significantly influenced the kilograms per hectare. Without considering the harmlessness of the fruit, but the difference in price due to the incorporation of some organic alternatives, production under this system presented a marginal rate of positive return.