Pepper Fertilizer Recommendations

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1. Pepper Fertilizer Recommendations

2. How Our Recommended Fertilizers Work on Pepper

2.1 Lono

2.2 Albina

2.3 Indra

2.4 Sulis

2.5 Damu

2.6 Zeme

3. Trial Data For Our Recommended Pepper Fertilizers

4. Related Articles

Section 1

Pepper Fertilizer Recommendations

Our Recommendations

  • Lono – For Improved Yield

    Lono is Levity’s flagship nitrogen fertilizer which greatly improves fruit number and size, and promotes good root growth. Lono provides cherry trees with ‘Stabilized Amine Nitrogen’ which focuses growth on fruit development rather than vegetative growth.

  • Albina – Improving Fruit Set & Quality

    Albina is Levity’s highly efficient calcium fertilizer which improves fruit set, fruit firmness and reduces susceptibility to blossom end rot and other physiological disorders. Conventional calcium fertilizers give erratic results because fruit are not always able to absorb calcium, making applications inefficient. Albina uses Levity’s special LoCal technology to make it easy for fruit to absorb.

  • Indra – For Stress Protection

    Indra improves growth and quality of pepper crops by helping them cope with stress caused by heat, cold, salinity, drought and high UV light. Indra helps crops cope with stress events, preserving yield and lifting quality.

  • Sulis – For Improved Colour formation

    Sulis is Levity’s fertilizer which helps peppers to build maturity (colour and brix). Sulis maximizes the function of the enzymes responsible for maturity in peppers and results in better colour and brix, meaning that farmers can harvest earlier.

  • Zeme – For Stronger, Healthier crops.

    Zeme is Levity’s unique silicon fertilizer which strengthens the crop and making it more resilient against pests, diseases and stress and improving post-harvest shelf life. Zeme uses Levity’s SiX chemistry which dramatically improves silicon uptake and distribution allowing low applications and better results.

Indra Fertiliser Bottle

Lono

For increased crop growth and yield.

Albina Fertiliser Bottle

Albina

For Quality, Shelf Life & Health.

Indra Fertiliser Bottle

Indra

Improves stress tolerance.

Sulis Fertiliser Bottle

Sulis

For improved quality, colour and taste.

Sulis Fertiliser Bottle

Zeme

For Stronger Healthier Crops.

Section 2

How Our Recommended Fertilizers Work on Pepper

Section 2.1

Lono

Lono Product Label

Lono

Feeding a pepper crop is important but nitrogen can make plants grow too vegetative, leading to poor and inconsistent establishment which follows through to harvest with inconsistent size, quality and maturity.

The majority of nitrogen applied to crops gets taken up in the nitrate form (regardless of what form it is applied as) due to instability in the environment. Nitrate nitrogen is processed in the leaf and leads to production of the growth hormone auxin. High auxin levels in plants make them apical dominant, meaning that as crops receive more N (nitrate) they become progressively more vegetative.

Unlike nitrates, the amine form of nitrogen is processed in roots and leads to the production of a different growth hormone – cytokinin. Amine nitrogen encourages more investment in reproductive growth and rooting. This is a more desirable type of growth for processing pepper crops as it gives good roots, more even establishment, and better and more even fruit production.

Unfortunately, due to the rapid conversion on amine to nitrate in soils this better growth habit is hard to achieve in practice.

Lono combines amine N with other nutrients and holds amine N in the form it is applied – giving more fruit development and less vegetative growth.

Please contact us for more information about purchasing Lono.

Section 2.2

Albina

Albina Product Label

Albina

To get even flower set and to reduce blossom end rot it is important to get good calcium levels in the fruit but throwing large volumes of calcium at the crop is an ineffective way to achieve this.

Calcium absorption in plant cells is linked to ‘polar auxin transport’ therefore parts of plants high in auxin absorb calcium easily (if available) and parts of plants low in auxin absorb calcium sparingly (no matter how much is supplied).

In common with most crops, peppers struggle to get good calcium levels in the fruit. This is due to the fruit being a low auxin tissue and therefore a poor sink for calcium. When the fruit is young and small (<2mm) it is in the cell division stage where the new cells that will become the fruit are being created and at this point auxin levels are good, however as the fruit starts to increase in size cell division is no longer occurring the cells are instead expanding and auxin levels are lower. This means as fruit increase in size the ability to absorb calcium decreases.

To get even flower set (vital for getting the crop even at harvest), and to reduce blossom end rot it is important to apply calcium between flowering and 2-3 mm fruit size. This is when new cells that form the fruit are formed, and applications are more effective in this window.

For best results crops will benefit from use of products containing LoCal technology such as Levity’s Albina. LoCal improves calcium absorption in low auxin parts of plants and can be used to get calcium into fruit where the natural ability to absorb is low.

To improve fruit calcium levels and give even fruit set use Albina at 1 litre per hectare at flowering. Repeat at two weeks intervals from commencement of flowering until harvest finishes. This will be more effective than higher volume and more frequent applications of standard formulations.

Please contact us for more information about purchasing Albina.

Section 2.3

Indra

Sulis product Label

Indra

Indra is a product that improves growth and quality of crops by helping them cope with stress caused by heat, cold, salinity, drought and high UV. All these stresses cause crops to produce toxins (ROS) that damage cells, reducing growth and increasing susceptibility to diseases.

Indra works by stimulating the plants own antioxidant production and by supplying the nutrients needed make this possibly. Indra is proven to protect crops against a wide variety of stresses and can improve yield and reduce susceptibility to disease when used in a programme.

Please contact us for more information about purchasing Indra.

Section 2.4

Sulis

Sulis product Label

Sulis

Sulis builds maturity (colour and brix) in fruit crops. It works by supplying molybdenum and boron in a special formulation that helps the fruit maximise the function of the enzymes responsible for maturation, building better levels of colour and brix to allow earlier picking.

The processes of maturation require molybdenum to manufacture ABA and boron to transport sugars, but as molybdenum does not produce visible deficiency symptoms, the enzymes are often not adequately functioning, leading to a slow build of colour and sugars. The Blush technology that powers Sulis stimulates the plant’s natural process of maturity, whilst ensuring these key nutrients in the process are available.

The special formulation of Sulis helps fruit build better levels of colour and brix to allow earlier picking. It promotes the processes of maturation that are normally triggered by the hormone ABA. Importantly, Sulis does this without causing a spike in ethylene, which can retard shelf life and create quality problems.

Sulis also contains cell wall stabilisers, so that whilst colour and sugars build, the developing fruit can also maintain firmness. Normally, there is a trade-off between colour and sugar formation and softening, Sulis is designed to manage this process so that farmers can get the taste they need whilst still picking fruit that stays firm in storage.

Please contact us for more information about purchasing Sulis.

Section 2.5

Damu

Sulis product Label

Damu

Boron has a role to play in preventing rapid vegetative growth reducing tuber development, and in improving bulking via improved carbohydrate transfer to tubers. Damu is a unique formula developed by Levity Crop Science, proven to improve fruit size in pepper crops.

Boric acid, the main form in which plants take up boron from soils is not phloem mobile, it is taken up and moved passively upwards through the plant with water accumulating mainly in leaves. peppers easily move boron from soil to leaves in this way but find it difficult to move from leaf to fruit.

To develop fruit pepper plants move sucrose from photosynthesising leaves (where it is created), to the fruit where it is stored as soluble solids. Boron plays a role in this movement of photosynthates from leaves to roots and so has a key influence on fruit bulking.

During fruit fill peppers translocate sucrose from leaves to tubers using bis-sucrose-borate, a phloem mobile complex formed between boron and sucrose.

Damu helps to facilitate bulking by improving translocation of sugars to fruit to build soluble soilds. Damu applied during bulking supplies the Boron needed to fuel carbohydrate translocation alongside Levity’s proprietary stimulant ‘Catalyst’ which stimulates the speed and intensity of the process.

For best results apply 2L/Ha at each flowering period.

Damu on Pepper

The Effects of Boron on Tomato & Pepper Physiology.

Indra Fertiliser Bottle

Please contact us for more information about purchasing Damu.

Section 2.6

Zeme

Sulis product Label

Zeme

Silicon is a nutrient that plays an important role in cell strength and in plant growth and development. However Silicon is poorly mobile in plants and when conventional silicon is applied to crops it binds locally after application and is not available to the plant for metabolic activity.

Zeme Levity’s Si-X technology, a unique chemistry that aids active transport of silicon by crops. Zeme helps protect pepper crops against damage from stress, giving stronger and more resilient leaves, stems and fruit. It can be used at low rates and helps strengthen the whole plant.

Because Zeme is better distributed through the plant than conventional silicon fertilisers, it is used less frequently and at a lower rate. The whole plant is toughened which can help make the plant more robust and less prone to disease infections.

Please contact us for more information about purchasing Zeme.

Section 3

Trial Data For Peppers

Our pepper fertilizers have been are independently trialed around the world to make sure that they excel above conventional fertilizers in all agronomic and weather conditions.

In this section explore some of the independent trials of our recommended fertilizers for pepper.

Full Programme

Lono

Albina

Indra

Sulis

Damu

Full Programme

Trial: South Africa, 2021

This trial on Peppadew (Piquante peppers) in the Naboomspruit area tested a standard programme with and without additional Levity products (Lono Plus, Lono K, Indra Plus and Albina). The Levity programme increased yield by more than 30% increasing fruit size, fruit number and fruit weight.

Average Fruit per Plant

Average Fruit/Ha

Average Tonnes/Ha (Kg)

%

Increase in Fruit per Hectare

%

Increase in Fruit Weight per Hectare

Trial: Philippines, 2021

This trial on Habanero type peppers (Mindanau, Philippines 2021) evaluated the effect of a Levity programme on yield and quality. The farmer used Lono Plus, Lono K, Albina and Damu alongside conventional inputs and observed large increases in number and quality of fruit. The whole crop had consistently large size peppers, hitting the highest grade (25g weight).

Trial: Philippines, 2021

This trial on chilli peppers (Mindanau, Philippines 2021) evaluated the effect of a Levity programme on yield and quality. The farmer used Lono Plus, Lono K, Albina and Damu alongside conventional inputs and observed large increases flesh thickness, length, weight and quality of fruit.

Lono

Trial: Jordan

These replicated trials were conducted in Jordan (Al-Qarout, 2020) and evaluated the effect of two applications of Lono-K (applied either foliar or via fertigation) on the size of bell peppers.

Lono-K applied twice at 15 day intervals significantly increased the width and length of red peppers at 1, 2 and 3 weeks after applications.
 

Red Pepper Fruit Width

Red Pepper Fruit Length

Lono-K applied twice at 15 day intervals significantly increased the width and length of red peppers at 1, 2 and 3 weeks after applications.

Yellow Pepper Fruit Length

Yellow Pepper Fruit Length

Lono-K applied twice at 15 day intervals significantly increased the width and length of yellow peppers at 1, 2 and 3 weeks after applications.

Albina

Trial: Florida, USA

This independent replicated trial was conducted in Kitching Creek (Florida, USA) during 2011, and looked at the effect of 4x1L/Ha applications of Albina applied during the flowering period.

Fruit was harvested in two picks in April and May and was sorted by size based on USDA grade standards for fresh market bell peppers, counted and weighed. The thickness of the flesh was measured using calipers.

Illustration of cell wall measurement.

Size and form typical for extra-large fruit.

Plots were uniform in size and vigor throughout the trial.

There was a 10% increase in total fruit number in the Albina treatment, with the largest increase in numbers seen in the Extra-large and large grades.

The increase in number did not come at the expense of fruit weight, with an increase seen in overall marketable yield.
The quality of peppers was higher in the Albina treaded plots, with an increased flesh thickness.

Use of Albina resulted in increased number, quality and weight of peppers, with improved grading and less rejected fruit.

Trial: Levity Lab Work

Blossom end rot is an economically important physiological disorder in peppers, where the problem is closely associated with localised calcium deficiency at the base of the fruit.

This experiment carried out at Levity compares the calcium levels at the top, middle and centre section of pepper fruits, on control fruit, and on fruit treated with Albina.

The results show that the control fruits have lower calcium levels in the bottom section the fruit compared to the top. Albina treated fruits have better calcium levels in all sections, but the largest improvement is in the bottom section.

This demonstrates why Albina is more effective at reducing susceptibility to blossom end rot than conventional fertilisers, as it can help improve calcium levels in the parts of the fruit least able to absorb calcium.

Indra

Trial: Jordan 2022

Indra can be used to help crops recover from viral symptoms. These peppers in Jordan recovered well with virus free new growth following an application of Indra Plus.

Peppers with Virus

New Growth after Indra

New Growth after Indra

Sulis

Trial: Shandong, China (2019)

This trial was carried out in the Shandong province (Moucheng Village), and evaluated the effect of 2L/Ha Sulis on the colour of bell peppers. The tunnel was split into 1mu blocks treated and untreated and colour was assessed.

Sulis

Control

The photo clearly shows how effective the trial was, with the treated block having significantly more yellow fruit one week after Sulis application compared to the control block where all fruit were still green.

Trial: Shandong, China (2019)

This trial was carried out in the Shandong province (Yiheyuan community), and evaluated the effect of 2L/Ha Sulis on the colour of red pickle peppers. The tunnel was split into 0.5mu blocks treated and untreated and colour was assessed.

Sulis

Control

The photo clearly shows how effective the trial was, with the treated block having significantly more red fruit one week after Sulis application compared to the control block where all fruit were still green.

Damu

Trial: Spain, 2011

This Independent trial on bell pepper (variety Canon) compared a standard liquid boron with Damu. The standard (same B level as Damu) was applied three times at 1L/Ha, wheras Damu was applied once at 2L/Ha six days ahead of picking.

Damu significantly increased yield, outperforming the standard boron with fewer applications and a third less product being applied. The yield increase came from a significant increase in average fruit size at harvest.

Trial: China

This trial in Shandong province, China compared an untreated block with a block treated with Damu at 2L/Ha one week before picking. The treated block had significantly larger fruit, with an increase in average fruit weight.

Section 5

Related Posts

Using Boron to Increase Tomato and Pepper Size

Using Boron to Increase Tomato and Pepper Size

Boron is an important nutrient, but one that is tricky to get right owing to it behaving differently on each crop. Here we look at how boron works in tomato and pepper crops and explore how boron can improve fruit size in these crops. Boron is frequently described as...

read more
Using Boron to Increase Tomato and Pepper Size

Using Boron to Increase Tomato and Pepper Size

Boron is an important nutrient, but one that is tricky to get right owing to it behaving differently on each crop. Here we look at how boron works in tomato and pepper crops and explore how boron can improve fruit size in these crops. Boron is frequently described as...

read more

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