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Title: Pepper plants growth, yield, photosynthetic pigments, and total phenols as affected by foliar application of potassium under different salinity irrigation water

Author
item HUSSIEN, M - National Research Centre
item EL-FAHAM, S - National Research Centre
item Alva, Ashok

Submitted to: Agricultural Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/11/2012
Publication Date: 3/1/2012
Citation: Hussien, M.M., El-Faham, S.Y., Alva, A.K. 2012. Pepper plants growth, yield, photosynthetic pigments, and total phenols as affected by foliar application of potassium under different salinity irrigation water. Agricultural Sciences. 3;241-248.

Interpretive Summary: Increased demand for fresh water often brings up competition for available water resources by different interests. The need to produce more food for rapidly growing population and dwindling supply of water are driving forces to investigate the potential for use of poor quality water for irrigation. Increased salinity is one such factor which has negative effects on crop production and/or quality. Therefore, new strategies have to be evolved to mitigate the negative effects of moderate to high salinity in irrigation water on the crop growth and production. This study has demonstrated foliar application of potassium mono-phosphate mitigates to some extent the negative effects of moderate to high salinity irrigation water on pepper plants growth, yield and photosynthetic pigments.

Technical Abstract: Irrigation with high salinity water influences plant growth, production of photosynthetic pigments and total phenols, leading to reduction in crop yield and quality. Foliar application of macro- and/or micro-nutrients can, to some extent, mitigate negative effects of high salinity irrigation water on plant growth and yield. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of foliar application of potassium (K) on pepper plants grown with different salinity water irrigation (3000 and 6000 ppm as compared to tap water with salinity level of 300 ppm). Irrigation using high salinity water decreased plant height, biomass production, and fruit yield as compared to those of the plants irrigated by tap water. Photosynthetic pigments and total phenols increased in the former as compared to those of the latter plants. The most serious affect was for the plants under highest salinity irrigation (6000 ppm) as compared to that of the plants under moderate salinity irrigation (3000 ppm). Foliar application of KMP at 200ppm concentration increased the plant growth, biomass production, and fruit yield. Chlorophyll_a content and total phenols increased significantly with foliar application of 100 ppm KMP. Further increase in foliar KMP concentration to 200 ppm had no significant benefits on photosynthetic pigments and total phenols content.