Agronomic response of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to CO2 enrichment in greenhouses with static ventilation

Abstract

Three Italian-type sweet pepper cultivars, ‘Palermo’, ‘Estar’ and ‘Charly’, grown in rockwool, were subjected to CO2 enrichment up to 500 and 800 µL L-1 and compared with the natural concentration. Plant growth, measured as plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves and leaf area, was higher in the CO2enriched greenhouses. CO2 enrichment leads to a higher yields in all cultivars, particularly at the highest concentration. Average fruit weight at 800 µL L-1 was higher than in the other treatments, while blossom-end rot incidence was lower in the control plants and higher in plants with CO2 enrichment, especially at 500 µL L-1. The CO2 enrichment resulted in a significant improvement in water use efficiency, both for marketable and total production.