IMPROVEMENT OF PEPPER GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY IN SANDY SOIL BY DIFFERENT FERTILIZATION TREATMENTS UNDER PROTECTED CULTIVATION

摘要

The experiments were conducted in newly reclaimed lands in Sadat city to improve the productivity of pepper plants grown under unheated greenhouse conditions by foliar application of nutrients. Different nutrient treatments were applied including twolevels of each of superphosphate, calcium chloride and potassium chloride while control plants were not treated. Plant growth parameters, productivity and physiological parameters, i. e., total chlorophyll content and electrolyte leakage (%), were measured. The results showed that all fertilization treatments significantly improved pepper growth parameters (plant height, number of branches, number of leaves and fresh weight of plants) and yield compared to control plants especially at the higher levels.Fertilization treatments also improved cold tolerance of pepper plants as indicated by the reduced electrolyte leakage and the maintained higher total chlorophyll content. The results indicated that additional foliar application of nutrients especiallyby phosphorus, calcium and potassium can improve growth and yield of pepper plants grown under sandy soil conditions during winter season The possible roles of these treatments are explained.