engleski

EFFECT OF NITROGEN CONCENTRATION AND POT VOLUME ON PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.) AND EGGPLANT (Solanum melongena L.) SEEDLINGS DEVELOPMENT

Effect of nitrogen concentration and pot volume were studied on morphological traits of pepper and eggplant seedlings using Ebb & flow fertigation system. Four different nitrogen (N) concentrations (35, 70, 140 and 205 mg L-1 N) and pot volumes (35, 45, 60 and 80 mL) were used to investigate their influence on seedlings vegetative development. Seedlings with developed cotyledons were irrigated with different nutrient solutions for 24 h, and kept dry for 48-72 h depending of seedlings stage. Results indicated that the overall height, number of leaves and leaf area were affected by both factors. The tallest pepper seedlings were obtained at N concentrations of 70 and 205 mg L (23.67 and 23.51 cm), while pot volumes of 45 and 80 mL achieved the best result with both species. Seedlings grown in 80 mL pots had highest number of leaves regardless of N concentrations. However, using N concentrations of 140 mg L-1, number of leaves increased regardless of pot volume. Leaf dry weight and area of both species were increased by increasing N concentration and pot volume. An increase of pot volume from 35 to 80 mL had positive effect on leaf thickness of both species seedlings. Nitrogen concentration increase and pot volume decrease resulted in overall increase of specific leaf area. Nitrogen concentrations of 140 and 205 N mg L-1 resulted with highest chlorophyll concentration index on both species. Nitrogen concentration of 140 mg L-1 and pot volume of 80 mL ensured best seedling development for both species.

chlorophyll concentration index, Ebb & Flow fertigation system, leaf thickness, leaf area, Solanaceae

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