EFFECT OF BORON FOLIAR APPLICATION AND DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF MINERAL AND ORGANIC NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON GROWTH, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND YIELD OF SWEET PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.).

Abstract

Two field experiments were performed at El-Baramon, Experimental Station, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, during the successive seasons of 2007 and 2008 to study the effect of boron foliar nutrition and different combinations of mineral and organic nitrogen fertilization on growth, chemical composition and yield of sweet pepper cv. California wonder. The main results could be summarized that: 1- Foliar application of boron at 100 ppm and fertilization with 75% mineral nitrogen fertilizer + 25% organic nitrogen resulted significasnt increase of plant height, number of branches, fresh and dry weight. 2-The highest significant values of A, B, total chlorophyll and carotene as well as N, P, K and Ca contents in sweet pepper plant leaves were obtained with foliar addition of boron at 100 ppm and fertilization with 75% mineral nitrogen + 25% organic nitrogen. 3- Fruit sitting percentage, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and total yield per feddan were significantly increased as a result of foliar addition with boron at 100 ppm and fertilization at level of 75% mineral nitrogen fertilizers + 25% organic nitrogen. 4- Foliar nutrition of boron at 100 ppm and fertilization by 75% mineral nitrogen + 25% organic nitrogen significantly increased fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit flesh thickness, fruit dry weigh and TSS as well as vit C. In general, this study demonstrated that it is possible to produce highest growth, yield and quality of sweet pepper fruits by foliar application with boron at 100 ppm and fertilization using 75% from the recommended dose as mineral nitrogen plus 25% from the recommended dose as organic nitrogen.