INTEGRATIVE SOIL AND LEAFY APPLICATION OF NPK FERTILIZERS IMPROVES GROWTH, YIELD, ANTIOXIDANT AND NUTRIENT STATUS OF CAPSICUM ANNUUM L. 1. UNDER SANDY SOIL CONDITIONS

Abstract

The appropriate application method was specified using integrative soil and leafy application of NPK fertilizers to sandy soil by studying their effects on growth and yield components, contents of some osmoprotectants, antioxidants and nutrients in hot pepper plant “Top Star Hybrid”. A pot experiment was created with five NPK application treatments. The integrative treatment of “50% of NPK added to the soil + 50% of NPK added as foliar spray” was the best comparing with other integrative ones [e.g., “100% of NPK added to the soil + foliar spray with distilled water (control)”, “75% of NPK added to the soil + 25% of NPK added as foliar spray”, “25% of NPK added to the soil + 75% of NPK added as foliar spray”, and “NPK fertilizers have not been added to the soil + 100% of NPK added as foliar spray”]. This best treatment significantly increased the components of growth (leaf area plant‒1 , shoot fresh and dry weights) and yield (number of fruits plant‒1 , average fruit weight, and fruits weight plant‒1 ), and the contents of soluble sugars, free proline, and nutrients (N, P, and K), while significantly reduced the contents of ascorbate and glutathione compared to other integrative treatments, including the control. The integrative treatment of “75% of NPK added to the soil + 25% of NPK added as foliar spray” was occupied the second order with respect to all tested parameters. The obtained results recommend the integrative treatment of “50% of NPK added to the soil + 50% of NPK added as foliar spray” for sandy soil to minimize nutrient loss and for higher growth and yield of hot pepper plants.