With the objective of evaluating the effects of water tension and calcium levels on sweet pepper production (Capsicum annuum L.), a greenhouse experiment was conducted at the Engineering Department of the Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, MG. The statistical design was entirely randomized in a factorial outline with 4 calcium levels (0, 200, 400 and 600 mg dm-3) and 4 tensions of water in the soil (10 kPa, 30 kPa, 50 kPa and 60 kPa), with six replications. Plants were cultivated individually on 13 dm³ pots filled with a red oxisoil. Fruit production, plant height, and stem diameter were determined. Final results showed that with daily irrigation and consequent maintenance of soil water content to a value close to the field capacity (10 kPa), a better crop response, was observed, as indicated by total and commercial production, total and commercial number of fruits, plant height, and stem diameter. For calcium levels, and calcium vs. water tension interactions, there was no significant difference among the treatments. However, at higher soil water content, there was a decrease on soil calcium levels, presumably due to an increase of nutrients absorption by plants.
Water stress; irrigation scheduling; Capsicum annuum
