Pepper - fertilization at different stages of development

The pepper belongs to the Solanaceae family. The vegetative development phase is relatively long. They require a lot in terms of environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight, temperature, and humidity.

Because of their production capacity, the crops cultivated in the fields or protected spaces need a lot of nutrients.

Peppers, like all plant species, experience critical growth periods during the growing season. The first critical period occurs in the early stages of vegetative growth (about 14 days after planting), and then at the beginning of flowering, when the first fruits appear, and when the fruits reach 50% of their normal size. This species shows a high uptake during the first part of the growing season and then decreases after the first harvest.

Essential nutrients

Nitrogen (N) that is provided to plants affects their development and production.

Nitrogen is absorbed from the soil as NH4+ or NO3- ions. The use of nitrogen forms is conditioned during the growing season by several factors, such as soil pH, species, and plant age.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for growth, development of root system, blossoming, and early fruit maturation. It is responsible for storing energy and transporting it into the cell.

Potassium (K) is one of the essential plant macronutrients and is taken up by crops in large quantities. The ability of plants to protect themselves against diseases, pests, and climatic conditions is due to the action of potassium in the plant. Potassium not only impacts plant resistance but also crop quality.

Calcium (Ca), which is present in cell walls and membranes, is another necessary nutrient. A deficient supply of this element can lead to the effect of small, cup-like leaves, flowers may be aborted, but there is also a risk of apical tip rot.

Magnesium is a critical nutrient that acts throughout the vegetative growth cycle, performing a variety of roles including:

is the central component of chlorophyll, involved in photosynthesis;
is the carrier of phosphorus in plants;
it’s involved in the cell division process.

Sulfur is considered to be a vital nutrient in plant growth because it performs a variety of roles, including:

it helps in the process of chlorophyll synthesis;
it is essential in the production of proteins, vitamins, and enzymes and it helps plants during their dormant stage.