Effect of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Seedling Age and Cultivation Method on Seedling Quality, Photosynthetic Parameters and Productivity

The age of seedlings affects not only the quality of the seedlings but also the yield. The age of seedlings of sweet peppers grown in a greenhouse and their cultivation method has been little studied. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine the effect of agrotechnological tools (direct seeding or transplanting) on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seedling quality and crop yield. The research was carried out in a greenhouse covered with double polymeric film at the Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. Two factors were investigated: seedling establishment method (direct seeding and transplanting) and their different age (60, 50, and 40 days). The 60-day-old seedlings (both sown directly and grown by transplanting) were taller, and had more leaves, a larger leaf area, and a thicker stem, than the 50- and 40-day-old seedlings. The highest content of dry matter was found in the leaves of 60-day-old seedlings that were grown by transplanting. The chlorophyll index was also highest in the leaves of these seedlings. The highest photosynthetic parameters (photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2, transpiration rate) were found in the leaves of 40-day-old seedlings (both sown directly and grown by transplanting). Higher yields were demonstrated in sweet peppers whose seedlings were planted in the greenhouse at the age of 60 days and which were sown directly in cups.