Students from the Universidad Tecnológica del Mayab, engaging in the tenth semester of Sustainable and Protected Agriculture Engineering, have initiated a groundbreaking research project focused on the greenhouse cultivation of Habanero Chili (Capsicum Chinense). This endeavor, titled "Design of Agricultural Systems and Protected Agriculture on Chile Habanero," aims to gather pivotal data on the growth patterns and optimal cultivation practices for habanero chili within a controlled environment.
The research incorporates the use of two distinct substrate types to evaluate their effectiveness in supporting plant development. The first involves microorganisms sourced from the "Sojol lu'um" forest, which are cultivated in a solution of water, molasses, and bran. The second substrate type employs nutrient solutions formulated from commercial soluble fertilizers, including potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, monoammonium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, and various micronutrients. Professor Efraín Castillo López, overseeing the project, emphasizes the goal of determining the most beneficial substrate and fertilization approach for the habanero crop.
As the habanero plants grow, students will meticulously document key growth metrics such as tip height and stem thickness. This data collection is crucial for the research's success and will contribute significantly to the academic and practical understanding of habanero chili cultivation in greenhouses. The findings from this study are anticipated to be published in a scholarly journal and showcased at a demonstration event aimed at local agricultural producers, highlighting the project's implications for sustainable agriculture and food safety standards in Yucatán.
Source: theyucatantimes.com/