Biostimulants combined with water soluble fertilizer had little effect on transplant growth and pepper yield grown under greenhouse conditions

ABSTRACT

Information on benefits of commercial biostimulants is needed due to the lack of unbiased claims and increased interest and use of commercial biostimulants by growers. This study assessed growth, yield, and quality of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), ‘Ace,’ grown using the commercial biostimulants (Bioyield®, Environoc 401®, MA Endomaxx®, Rootshield Plus⁺ WP ®, Select®, and Spectrum+Myco®) and 2 concentrations of N fertilization. Transplant size was not improved by biostimulant treatment. At harvest, Environoc 401® and Select® caused production of more fruit with 50% or more color. Bioyield® reduced dry weight by ~25% with no reduction to yield. Microbial-based biostimulants inconsistently improved growth and quality of ‘Ace’ bell pepper under a greenhouse and commercial fertilizer program. Commercial biostimulants may prove their value with more applications prior to fruit set or in the field, where other yield limiting factors come into play.

KEYWORDS:

• Capsicum annuum
• beneficial fungi
• controlled environment
• humic substances
• liquid fertilizer
• transplant
• vegetable

Acknowledgments

We thank the United States Department of Agriculture, North Central Sustainable Agriculture Grant ENC17-161, for supporting this research, extension, and outreach. I would like to thank Sarah Steffen and Neel Solanki with their help in the greenhouse production and data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch project [IOW03901].