Effect of Gyttja and Nitrogen Applications on Plant Growth of Red Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) in the Soils Formed on the Different Parent Materials

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effects of gyttja (0, 1, 2, and 4%) and nitrogen (0,70, 140, and 210 mg kg-1) applications on the growth and nutrient uptake of red pepper plants grown in the soils formed on the different parent materials (basalt, serpantine and limestone) which had been taken from the East Mediterranean Agricultural Basin. The findings showed that plant biomass significantly increased, but fruit yield was not affected with gyttja applications. On the other side, nitrogen applications at 140 mg kg-1 and 210 mg kg-1 doses significantly increased biomass and fruit weights. Among the soils formed on different parent materials, in case of plant morphological variations plant heights and biomass weights were highest in the basaltic soils while the highest fruit weight was measured for serpantine soils, and the highest harvested number of fruits were measured for limestone soils.