WITHIN-ROW SPACING EFFECTS ON TRAITS OF IMPORTANCE TO MECHANICAL HARVEST IN PAPRIKA-TYPE PEPPERS

Several within-row spacings (WRS) were tested on paprika-type peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) grown at a standard between-row spacing of 0.9 m. The objective was to maximize marketable yield per square meter while minimizing plant size and lodging so as to facilitate mechanical harv est. Total and marketable fruit dry weights per square meter decreased linearly as WRS increased from 5 to 25 cm in 1990. The 20 and 25 cm W RS produced undesirably massive plants with a high rate of lodging. Fr uit yields were unaffected by WRS of 5, 10, and 15 cm in 1991, but lod ging and shoot dry weight increased as WRS increased. Two experiments performed without thinning in 1992 produced WRS comparisons of about 4 .5 vs. 8 cm and 7 vs. 11 cm. Shoot dry weights were highest with the w ider WRS, but marketable fruit dry weights per square meter and lodgin g percentages were unaffected by WRS in either 1992 study. Given a bet ween-row spacing of 0.9 m, a target WRS of 10 cm (about 11 plants m(-2 )) is recommended for paprika-type peppers intended for mechanical har vest. Net WRS of less than 10 cm are preferable to those greater than 10 cm. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.