Impact of Organic and Chemical Compounds on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Sweet Pepper under Saline Conditions

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out in a private farm under drip irrigation with fertigation system at Kafr El-Sheik Governorate, during summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 in order to study the effect of organic compounds like algae extract freely( at a rate of 4,3, 2 L/Fed. for 3 times and control ) and chemical treatments application like K ,Ca compounds ( at a rate of 4 L/Fed. for 3 times) and the interaction between them (at half amount of each one for 3 times) to minimize the harmful of salinity compared with control on vegetative growth characters, leaf pigments, yield and yield components, fruit quality and leaf chemical constituents of sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.). cv. Spanish pepper. Vegetative growth characters, i.e. plant hight, number of branches, leaf number, dry weight / plant, leaf area /plant, fruit yield and its components parameters and TSS in fruit juice were significantly decreased by decaling the amount of algae extract freely in the irrigation water from 4 L/Fed. (3 times) to control (without addition of algae extract freely), while treats with 4L/Fed. gave the highest values of K percentage on fruit. On the other hand, control treatments resulted in the highest values of titratable acidity and proline contents in the leaves. Sweet pepper plants were treated with the combination of K chemical compounds at 2L/Fed. and Ca chemical compounds at 2 L/Fed. for 3 times recorded the highest values of all studied growth characters, average fruit weight, early yield, total yield, TSS and nitrogen percentage followed by Ca chemical compound at 4L/Fed. with non-significant differences between both treatments. While, plants were received K chemical compound at 4 L/Fed. was recorded the highest values of phosphorus percentage. Algae extract freely at a rate of 4 L/Fed. in combination with k chemical compound at a rate of 4 L/Fed. separately or with Ca chemical compound at 4 L/Fed. caused a stimulatory effect on most of the studied characters of sweet pepper plants. Meanwhile, the same treatments were recorded the lowest values of TSS in fruits of sweet pepper. On the other hand, the control plants without either algae extract freely or K and Ca compounds recorded the lowest values of all studied growth characters, yield and its components and fruit quality as effects of salinity. Economically, it is inferred that using of algae extract freely at a rate of 4L/Fed. plus potassium chemical compound at a rate of 4L/Fed. could be recommended for increasing unit productivity and also net profit, in addition of high quality of pepper fruits.