Water-storing synthetic polymers (soil additives designed to improve plant establishment and growth in arid environments) has been shown to improve the growth of horticultural plants. Previous research has shown that synthetic polymers are useful when added to low nutrient-holding and water-retaining growing media. There are three groups of polymers used in these applications, some of them added with nutrients and growth starters. A propenamide-propeonate co-polymer was added to substrates containing different levels of compost to evaluate its advantages in pepper transplant production. We evaluated growth patterns and quality traits of pepper seedlings, grown on three peat-based growing media. Seedlings earliness, uniformity and size were improved by polymer addition, especially to low compost substrates. Shoot:root/ratio was not improved by polymer addition but by substrate characteristics. Growth rate was more dependent on leaf area development than on assimilation rate. Seedlings quality traits tended to be improved by polymer addition. One explanation for polymer-treated substrate performance seems to be that nutrients held within the matrix of the polymer are less prone to leaching.
Capsicum annuum L.; additives; water retention; substrate; compost
