Integrative soil and leafy application of NPK fertilizers improves growth, yield, antioxidant and nutrient status of capsicum annuum L. : 2. under loamy soil conditions

Abstract EN

The convenient application method was identified using integrative soil and foliar application of NPK fertilizers to loamy soil by evaluating their effects on growth and yield components, contents of some osmoprotectants, antioxidants and nutrients in hot pepper plant “Top Star Hybrid”.

A pot experiment was created with five NPK application treatments.

The integrative treatment of “75% of NPK added to the soil + 25% of NPK added as foliar spray” was the best comparing with other integrative ones [e.

g.

, “100% of NPK added to the soil + foliar spray with distilled water (control)”, “50% of NPK added to the soil + 50% of NPK added as foliar spray”, “25% of NPK added to the soil + 75% of NPK added as foliar spray”, and “NPK fertilizers have not been added to the soil + 100% of NPK added as foliar spray”].

This best treatment significantly increased the components of growth (leaf area plant‒1, shoot fresh and dry weights) and yield (number of fruits plant‒1, average fruit weight, and fruits weight plant‒1 ), and the contents of soluble sugars, free proline, and nutrients (N, P, and K), while the contents of ascorbate and glutathione were not affected compared to other integrative treatments, including the control.

The obtained results recommend the integrative treatment of “75% of NPK added to the soil + 25% of NPK added as foliar spray” for loamy soil to minimize nutrient loss and for higher growth and yield of hot pepper plants.