Abstract:
The types and varieties of peppers grown in Mediterranean areas are a response to the
deman
d of European markets, although in each Autonomous Community local varieties
are grown to satisfy the national demand. Nowadays, the range of shapes, colours, tastes
and uses is wider than ever as a result of greenhouse cultivation, national and
internatio
nal tendencies and increased demand. In Murcia, the growing cycle runs from
December to July or August, depending on the market and the growth of the crop. Sweet
pepper is normally grown in greenhouses, using a variety of technologies: from simple
shaded g
reenhouses, to the most
-
advanced multitunnels (large, in the form of a round
arch or Gothic arch and with sophisticated ventilation). Due to the high cost of fuel, it is
impossible to use heating during winter after transplanting, so alternative techniques
are
used to raise the temperature a few degrees and improve crop production. The aim of this
work was to increase the precocity and productivity of sweet pepper grown in
greenhouses. The effect of a
Polypropylene Spunbonded Nonwoven
Microtunnel (PSNM)
was
studied. The results show that, although the increase in production was not great
(lower than 5% in both years of the study), precocity increased by 16% in both years.
Since the increased cost of using this technology is not excessive, crop profitability
increases if precocity is taken into account, as all our indicators show. The study suggests
that the use of a PSNM raises the marketable production and brings forward the first
harvests.
Keywords:
Crop protection, Monte
c
arlo, Profitability, Risk, Value
at
r
isk
