Evaluation of pepper seedling growth according to the growing period and tray for automatic transplanting

The effective growth of pepper seedlings relies on the growing period and tray used, which both aim to minimize seedling damage during the transplantation process. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of red and green pepper seedling growth in plug and cylindrical paper pot (CPP) trays with different growth periods of the seedlings. Two different seedling growth trays were used for the two varieties of pepper seedlings in the same growing media. The pepper seedling growth rates were investigated at 15, 30, and 45 days for each of variety. Important parameters, e.g., the plant height, fresh weight for the plant and root, number of leaves, leaf length and width, and leaf chlorophyll contents, were measured. During the experiment, the CPP tray maintained uniform seedling growth as compared to the plug tray. CPP trays ensured the height of the seedling, with these results 0.84 to 1.6 times higher than those of the plug tray for all conditions, indicating the good quality of the pepper seedlings. The shoot and root weights were found to be greater with more leaves in the CPP tray seedlings for 45 days compared to the seedlings grown in the plug tray, whereas the green pepper variety showed a greater leaf ratio than the red pepper seedlings. The analysis of pepper seedling growth presented in this study will guide the selection of suitable growth trays and seedling periods for farmers when they undertake automatic pepper transplantation in the field.