Benefits of organic fertilizers spray on growth quality of chili pepper seedlings under cool temperature

Abstract

In this study, effects of foliar application (with constant 0.2% concentration) of chemical NPK (N20:P10:K20) and organic fertilizers of Biomin (an organic aminochelate fertilizer), Humifolin (a humic acid based fertilizer), Biomin + Humifolin, a synthetic macro-micro mixture, soil application of NPK (600 mg.kg⁻¹ of the N20:P10:K20 formulation), and a no fertilizer control were evaluated on growth and quality of chili pepper (Capsicum annuum var annuum) seedlings under greenhouse conditions with cool temperature of 15 ± 3 °C. The results showed that most growth and quality traits were best improved by foliar application of Biomin aminochelate followed by Humifolin fertilizer. Higher values for leaf area, leaf number, chlorophyl index, root and shoot biomass, and leaf concentration of soluble sugars, N, K, Ca, and Zn, were attributed to foliar application of Biomin and Humifolin. The mixture of Biomin + Humifolin had reduced values of those parameters indicating possible negative interaction when these two organic fertilizers are mixed.

Keywords:

• aminochelate
• amino acid
• Capsicum annuum
• humic acid
• macro-micro nutrients uptake
• seedling quality