Influence of coal ash on physio-morphological and biochemical parameters of Capsicum (Capsicum annumvar.grossumL.)

Abstract

A pot culture experiment comprised of five treatments such as T1: 100% soil mixture + 0% coal ash, T2: 75% soil mixture + 25% coal ash, T3: 50% soil mixture + 50% coal ash, T4: 25% soil mixture + 75% coal ash, T5: 0% soil mixture + 100% coal ash was conducted in completely randomized block design with 5 replications to assess the effect of varying levels of coal ash on physiomorphological and biochemical parameters of Capsicum. The results revealed that the combination of 50:50 soil and coal ash mixture increased the seed germination, seedling characteristics, plant growth, yield attributing characters, biomass, chlorophyll content of the crop tested in the current investigation. The increase in growth traits was mainly attributed to increase in nutrient acquisition of plants grown under above combination. However, 100% coal ash in the growing medium reduced seed germination, seedling vigour, growth, yield attributing characters and biomass per plant. The leaf nutrient status in relation to the macronutrients like N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S and the micro nutrients Zn, Mn, B, Mo, Fe and Cu were found higher in the treatments having high coal ash content in the growing medium than other treatments and the lowest was recorded in control (no coal ash).