Effects of Nutrients Deficiencies on Growth and Development and Nutrients in Leaves of Sweet Pepper

Abstract

Deficiency of N, P, K, Ca and Mg affecting growth and development and the nutrient content in sweet pepper leaves was studied. The sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum var. Tokal) were grown under plastic greenhouse conditions and using coconut cube as growing media, during July to December in 1999, to investigate the effect of N, P, K, Ca and Mg deficiency on growth, development and nutrients status in leaves. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 6 treatments, 5 replications, 9 plants/replication, i.e: treatment 1) the control treatment, plant were supplied with Hoagland's nutrient solution; treatment 2) nitrogen deficient solution (-N); treatment 3) phosphorus deficient solution (-P); treatment 4) potassium deficient solution (-K); treatment 5) calcium deficient solution (-Ca) and treatment 6) magnesium deficient solution (-Mg). The results showed that at 42 days after planting, leaves started to be chlorosis, especially in -N treatment, SPAD unit and plant height were lower than control. However, leaves area were not significantly difference among treatments. Leave dry weight of N and P deficient treatments were significantly lower than others. Total dry weight of K deficient treatment was the lowest at 203.2 g. Total yields of -N, -K and     -Ca treatments were lower than control. The nutrients deficiencies treatments affected nutrient contents in leaves comparing with control, N concentration in leaves was reduce in -N treatment but increase in -P, -K, -Ca and       -Mg treatments. K concentration in -K and -N treatments were lower than other treatments. Ca concentration in          -Ca and -N treatments were lower than other treatments. Mg concentration in -Mg and -N treatments were lower than other treatments.