INFLUENCE OF POTASSIUM LEVELS AND SOME ANTI-SALINITY MATERIALS ON SWEET PEPPER GROWN IN SANDY SOIL AND IRRIGATION WITH HIGH SALINTY WATER UNDER NORTH SINAI CONDITIONS

Abstract

The present work was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2013 and 2014 at the Agriculture Research Station of Hortic. Dept., Agric. Res. Center, in El- Arish, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt. Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Local hybrid Fares was used in this study . The objective of the experiments was to study the effect of four potassium rates i.e., 200 (K1)/fed., 250 (K2)/fed., 300 (K3)/fed., and 350 (K4)Kg/fed. from potassium sulfate 48%) with four treatments of foliar spray by some anti-salinity using (1g/ l-1 Zinc, 5 cm/ l-1 Humic acid, and 0.5g/ l-1 Salicylic acid, and beside the control) under sandy soil which irrigated with high salinity water and saline water irrigation in North Sinai, on the growth, yield and some chemical contents in leaves and fruits of pepper plants as well as fruit quality. Split plot design was used in the experiment. The results showed that all growth parameters, gave the highest values with application of potassium level at the rate of 350 Kg per fed. with foliar spray by any of Humic acid 5 cm/ l-1, Salicylic acid 0.5g/ l-1, and ZN 1g/ l-1 , respectively as well as all fresh and dry weights of pepper plant organs expressed in roots, leaves, and stems, as well as clusters fresh weight and both total fresh and dry weight of pepper plants in the both seasons compared to application of potassium the other levels at (K1, K2 and K3) with any of foliar spray of (Zn, Humic and Salicylic acids). Application of the high potassium level (350 Kg per fed.) with the foliar spray by Humic acid, Zn, and Salicylic acid, showed a significant increase in marketable yield of fruit weight per plant (g), number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight as well as total yield per fed. in addition high potassium level (K4) with the foliar spray with any of salicylic acid, Humic acid and Zn, respectively gave the low contents of Na+ and proline in the leaves and fruits compared to the low levels of potassium in the both seasons. Application of potassium levels K4 or K3 with spraying by Zn, Humic acidand salicylic acid gave the highest values for V.C content and T.S.S in sweet pepper fruits.