Production, biometrics and physicochemical analysis of bell pepper fruits fertilized with biochar from different residues

ABSTRACT Bell pepper, a crop of nutritional importance, stands out for its vitamin C content. Given the need for sustainable agricultural practices, the present study explored the use of biochars derived from regional waste as an alternative in bell pepper cultivation. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of biochars from poultry litter, coconut fiber, and rice straw on the biometric and physicochemical characteristics of bell pepper fruits, on fruit production per plant and on fruit yield. The experiment was performed in the field in a randomized block design, in a 5 × 3 + 1 factorial scheme, referring to five doses of biochar (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 t ha-1) and three types of biochar (coconut fiber, poultry litter, and rice straw) with four repetitions, plus an additional treatment (mineral fertilization). Biometric variables (fruit length and diameter, skin thickness, number of fruits, fruit mass) and physicochemical variables of the fruits (soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, vitamin C, and ash content), production and yield of the fruits were evaluated. The production of bell pepper fruits was not influenced by biochars, but the doses of biochars influenced all variables analyzed with the exception of skin thickness. Vitamin C and soluble solids contents were higher in treatments with biochar and lower with mineral fertilizer. Biochar produced from rice straw had the greatest influence on fruit acidification.