Effect of Peat-Zeolite Substrates Used During Seedling Cultivation on the Growth, Physiology, and Yield of Sweet Peppers

The quality of seedlings and a plant’s yield are influenced by the different substrates used to grow the seedlings. Zeolite has been successfully used in growing media for containerized production systems. This study aimed to assess the effects of peat and zeolite substrates on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seedling growth, photosynthetic parameters, and crop yield. The research was conducted at the Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. Sweet pepper seedlings were grown in different substrates: peat, peat+zeolite 1:1, peat+zeolite 2:1, and peat+zeolite 3:1. The biometric parameters of sweet pepper seedlings grown in a mixture of peat and zeolite at different ratios were affected differently. Adding zeolite to peat substrate positively affected the stomatal conductance and transpiration rate in sweet pepper seedling leaves. Sweet peppers whose seedlings had been grown in peat-zeolite substrates gave higher yields.