Determination of the performance of DME combustion gas application on physiological parameters of hot pepper plant in controlled greenhouse

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to assess the performance of dimethyl ether (DME) combustion gas on physiological parameters of pepper plants. The main objective of the study was to measure the changing pattern of temperature and carbon dioxide concentration by using DME combustion gas as a fuel for a DME burner for observing those effects on height of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum Linnaeus) in the winter season. To achieve the objectives of the study, we assayed three treatments for the three controlled greenhouses. DME-1 and DME-2 treatments consisted of average DME flow quantity in duct were 17.4 and 10.2 m3 min-1, respectively, to greenhouse-1 and greenhouse-2 and no DME gas was supplied to greenhouse-3 which was left as control (DME-3). We provided all crop management practices to each greenhouse at a same time in a fixed rate. The study found that the concentration of CO2 increased to 199.03±64.35 and 148.80±51.52% and temperature raised to 3.92±1.16 and 2.02±0.83°C treated with DME at 17.4 and 10.2 m3 min-1, respectively, compared to control condition. There was a significant relationship observed between the rate of DME application and growth of pepper plant. Mean (±SD) plants height (mm) at vegetative phase of pepper plant after 8 week were 272±3.83, 264±5.19 and 255±7.64 for DME-1, DME-2 and DME-3, respectively. A comparison of relative growth rates among the treatments indicated more rapid relative growth rate at vegetative phase of pepper plant implying better yield. Therefore, endorsed quantify of DME combustion gas for a specified crop can be applied to greenhouse to improve the plant growth and enhance yield in winter season. ? 2020 International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved.