2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Plastic mulches are widely used for the production of bell peppers and other vegetables. There is, however, limited information on Poblano pepper crop physiology and production, including the response of this pepper to the use of plastic mulches. Poblano pepper is widely used in the Mexican cuisine for dishes such as ‘chiles rellenos’ (stuffed peppers). Poblano pepper is of increasing popularity in the U.S. due to its relatively low pungency and rich flavor. The objective was to determine the effects of plastic film mulch and cultivar on fruit yield. The study was conducted in the spring of 2011, at the UGA Horticulture Farm, in a sandy loam soil. Since there are no commercial recommendations for growing Poblano pepper in Georgia, Poblano pepper plants were grown according to Univ. of Georgia Extension Service recommendations for growing bell pepper. The length of experimental plot was 6 m. Plants were established on raised beds (6 x 0.76 m; beds formed on 1.8-m centers). Six-week-old transplants were planted on 13 Apr. 2011 on two rows per bed, with a 30 cm separation between plants and 36 cm separation between rows. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split plot arrangement, with plastic mulch being the main plot and cultivar the sub-plot. There were 12 treatments [2 plastic mulch (black and silver) x 6 cultivar (Ancho 211, Don Emilio, Don Matías, Masivo, San Ardo, and Tiburón) combinations]. Results showed that Cultivar San Ardo had the highest marketable yield (103.9 t/ha), while ‘Ancho’ produced lowest (63.8 t/ha) marketable yield, largest number of marketable fruit (122,000 fruit/ha), and among the smallest fruit size (33 g/fruit). ‘Masivo’ had fewest numbers of marketable fruit. Plastic mulches of contrasting soil-warming ability (black mulch and silver mulch) of this study had no effect on number of fruit, fruit marketable yield, or individual fruit weight.