Combined Effect of Potassium Fertiliser, Saline Irrigation Water and Humic Acids On Soil Acidity and Yield Components of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to adapt seedlings of sweet pepper, also called “California Wonder”, to salinity and the role of humic acid and potassium fertiliser in reducing the effect of salinity on the plant. A three-factorial field experiment was conducted according to the Complete Random Block Design, with three replications during the spring season of 2018 to study the humic acid and potassium fertiliser role in enhancing the salt tolerance of pepper plants. The first factor included four levels of saline water irrigation, namely 2, 4, 6 and 8 dS.m-1. The second factor included a foliar application of three levels of humic acids i.e., 0, 25 and 50 kg.h-1. The third factor represents the addition of three levels of potassium fertiliser (potassium sulphate of 50% K2O according to the fertiliser recommendation of 0, 75 and 150 kg. h-1. The considered plant and soil traits were branch per plant, stem diameter (mm), percentage of protein in the fruits and soil pH. The results obtained from the experiment can be summed up above the treatment of air conditioning at saline level 6 ds m-1 in branch per plant with 12.3 and the most significant results obtained from the experiment can be summed up above the treatment of air conditioning at saline level 4 ds m-1 in stem diameter 2.03 mm. The results showed a decrease in branch per plant and stem diameter (mm) by increasing the salinity of irrigation water by 8 ds m-1 and the increase in the addition of humic acid and potassium fertiliser. The results showed a decrease in soil acidity (pH) increasing the salinity of irrigation and increasing fruit protein content by increasing the salinity.