Technical solutions for sustainable pepper production

Green solution for pepper cultivation

Research conducted by the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI) shows that using live support trees for pepper vines delivers high economic efficiency and protects the environment. Other studies have also demonstrated that the production cycle of pepper grown on live supports is 20–50% longer than on dead supports, with more stable yields and an extended lifespan of the garden.

In addition, growing pepper on live supports helps reduce investment costs for new plantations. Live support trees help regulate the microclimate of pepper gardens, mitigating the impacts of hot sun. As a result, irrigation cycles in these gardens are 20–30% longer than those planted on dead supports, thereby lowering production costs and reducing risks for farmers during drought conditions.

In practice, this cultivation method offers multiple benefits, such as creating a microclimate that meets the ecological requirements of pepper plants, reducing evapotranspiration, minimizing damage from strong winds, delivering high and stable yields year after year, limiting pests and diseases, extending the lifespan of the garden, and lowering input costs.

According to Dr. Phan Viet Ha, Deputy Director of WASI, the Pepper Research and Development Center under WASI is currently keeping and tending a collection of live support trees for pepper to assess their effectiveness. "Some of the live support tree species recommended for pepper production today include Cassia siamea, Leucaena leucocephala, Wrightia annamensis, and Ceiba pentandra," he said.

According to Dr. Ha, WASI has successfully developed new planting models, integrated farming systems, integrated pest management (IPM) models, and sustainable pepper cultivation models that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These technical models are all designed to increase productivity, protect soil and water resources, reduce emissions, raise farmers’ incomes, and meet international market requirements.

Mr. Nguyen Sy Cuong in Tan Lap ward, Dak Lak province, shared that he is currently growing 270 organic pepper pillars using Cassia siamea as live supports for his pepper vines. "The use of live supports helps pepper plants grow better, extends their lifespan, and reduces pest and disease incidence. Additionally, since switching to organic farming, I have seen my pepper plants grow very well and remain healthy. With 270 pillars, I harvest 1.5–2 tons of dried peppercorns annually," Mr. Cuong said.

Sustainable pepper production models

Dr. Phan Viet Ha added that the model of newly planting improved pepper varieties starts from producing disease-free seedlings in nurseries, using raised-bed planting techniques, increasing the use of organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and biological preparations, and applying lime to improve soil pH.

"The synchronous application of these advanced technical solutions has increased the survival rate of new plantings to 96% after 12 months. After 36 months, the pepper plants grow vigorously and start producing high yields. Soil acidity is gradually improving in a way favorable to pepper plants. Soil fertility is increasing and remains at a very high level. The soil's physical properties have been significantly improved, remaining loose and well-structured," Dr. Ha affirmed.

According to Dr. Phan Viet Ha, several effective models include intercropping pepper with fruit trees such as avocado or durian. This practice helps reduce pepper spike drop, increase fruit set, improve the microclimate, raise humidity levels, enhance land-use efficiency, boost CO₂ absorption thanks to upper canopy trees, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by cutting fertilizer and pesticide use, increase biomass, and improve soil organic matter.

WASI has also studied models that apply solutions to reduce nitrogen fertilizer by 25–50% compared to recommended levels, yet maintain pepper yields. This approach lowers spike drop disease incidence, improves fruit quality, reduces N₂O (a greenhouse gas) emissions, mitigates soil acidification, cuts fertilizer costs by 15–30%, and increases net profits.

The solution of using organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and lime for soil improvement enhances root health, prevents root rot in pepper plants, boosts the absorption of nutrients, reduces quick wilt disease, increases soil organic matter, improves soil microbiology, decreases dependence on synthetic fertilizers, lowers plant disease treatment costs, and strengthens production stability for long-term cultivation.

The solution of water-saving irrigation combined with water-soluble fertilizer application promotes uniform pepper growth, minimizes fertilizer shock, reduces fertilizer loss and leaching, conserves water resources, lowers labor requirements, optimizes costs, and enhances cultivation efficiency.

Conducting soil and leaf analysis to adjust nutrients and prevent nutritional imbalances will help optimize plant growth and productivity, minimize fertilizer residues in the soil, avoid groundwater contamination, reduce fertilizer waste, and improve the efficiency of input investments.

The solution of using microbial preparations such as Trichoderma and PGP helps reduce pests and diseases, improve root systems, limit the use of chemical pesticides, enhance the soil’s biological stability, lower the release of toxic chemicals, cut costs compared to the use of chemical pesticides, meet food safety standards, and align with the requirements of high-end markets.

The ecological farming model, such as growing cover crops and nitrogen-fixing plants, helps suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, provide natural nutrients, increase biodiversity, improve soil structure, reduce erosion, lower labor and fertilizer costs, and meet sustainable agriculture standards.

"In the coming period, WASI will continue to collect, select, and trial superior genetic varieties from production. Through methods such as hybridization and grafting, we aim to breed varieties suited to each ecological zone, ensuring high yield and quality, with resistance to pests, diseases, and adverse weather and climate conditions. We will also apply genetic and molecular technologies in breeding and diversify crop structure in pepper production to find the most optimal solutions for effective cultivation, enhance product value, and promote sustainable development," Dr. Phan Viet Ha shared.