ÜNLÜ, Hüsnü Suleyman Demirel University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Horticulture, Turkey , ÜNLÜ, Halime Suleyman Demirel University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Horticulture, Turkey , KARAKURT, Yaşar Suleyman Demirel University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Horticulture, Turkey , PADEM, Huseyin Suleyman Demirel University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Horticulture, Turkey

pH, Nitrogen and Calcium Concentration Affect Germination and Seedling Growth In Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

28073

The study reports the effects of solution pH and external calcium (Ca) and nitrogen (N) applications on seed germination, and early growth of pepper cv. Demre 8 seedlings in perlite culture. The percentage of pepper seeds that germinated was significantly affected by solution pH, and ranged from 55% at pH 3.0 to 90% at pH 6.5. Seedling growth was more sensitive to pH as was evident with significant declines in root and shoot dry mass, root and shoot length, number of leaves per plant, lateral root formation and root surface area. Increasing solution Ca concentration diminished the adverse effects of low pH on germination and seedling growth. Nitrogen was also effective in enhancing the germination and seedling growth. Lateral root formation, shoot and root dry mass increased with increasing N and Ca concentrations. It is suggested that germination and early growth of pepper can be significantly improved in strongly acid soils if adequate Ca and N is made available to the germinating seed.

270

Dry mass , Emergence , Growth Seed , Seedling , Nutrition , Soil pH

Erciyes University Journal Of The Institute Of Science an‎d Technology

282