ISHS Acta Horticulturae 318: II International Symposium on Specialty and Exotic Vegetable Crops
CULTURAL PRACTICES FOR MACHINE-HARVESTED PAPRIKA PEPPER |
| Author: | Brian A. Kahn |
| Abstract:
Sweet paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important international spice commodity. Some field crop growers in the American Southwest are trying paprika as an alternative, specialty crop. However, high labor requirements for hand picking the fruit are a major limitation to expanded acreage. A modified cotton stripper has been developed as a potential mechanical harvester for paprika, but efficient harvest mechanization also requires establishment of complementary horticultural practices. Research was conducted on paprika culture in the American Southwest, where both rain and frost must be considered during the harvest season. Both raw and primed seed appeared suitable for stand establishment, and morphology of plants established by direct seeding was more conducive to mechanical harvest than morphology of plants established by transplanting. Populations of at least 9–10 plants/m2 seemed desirable, and populations as high as 20 plants/m2 may be needed for maximum yield of marketable paprika fruit. Ethephon was of little value as a fruit ripening agent. There were no benefits from adding 0.1M Ca (OH)2 to ethephon solutions. | |
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