SOIL BEDDING TREATMENTS IMPROVE PEPPER PLANT ANCHORAGE

Two problems associated with machine harvesting of peppers (Capsicum a nnuum L.) are plant lodging during growth and uprooting, Factorial com binations of four bedding treatments and two N rates were compared for effects on lodging, uprooting, and fruit yield of chile and paprika-t ype peppers in Fort Cobb and Bixby, Okla, Bedding treatments were 1) n o bed (T1); 2) no bed with 5 cm of soil hilled to the plant bases (T2) ; 3) bedded preplant, but bed not sustained (i,e,, allowed to erode) d uring the growing season (T3); and 4) bedded preplant and bed sustaine d during the growing season (T4), All plots received preplant N at 45 kg . ha(-1). In 1992, one-half of the plots were sidedressed with 45 k g N/ha, In 1993, one-half of the plots were sidedressed with N at 45 a nd 90 kg . ha(-1) for paprika and chile, respectively, The higher N ra tes consistently produced larger and higher-yielding chile plants and generally increased yield and stem and leaf weights of paprika plants. The force required to uproot plants was not significantly affected by N rates. Plant lodging was significantly worse at the higher N rates in only one of five studies. Bedding treatments did not have a consist ent influence on fruit yield, The force required to uproot plants was greater with T2 and 4 compared to T1 acid 3 in three of four studies, Plant lodging was not influenced by the bedding treatments.