Effects of Calcium Nitrate and Humic Acid on Pepper Seedling Growth Under Saline Condition

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to determine effects of calcium nitrate and humic acid applications on pepper seedling growth under saline condition. A mixture of soil:sand (1:1) was used as a plant growing media including 90 mg kg(-1) P2O5, 180 mg kg(-1) K2O and 250 mg kg(-1) N. Four different doses of humic acid (0, 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg kg(-1)) and calcium nitrate (0, 50, 100 and 150 mg kg(-1)) were applied into the growing media. Before sowing Demre variety pepper seeds, 60 m mol NaCl was added into 300 cm(3) soil:sand mixture in each pot. Applications of humic acid and calcium nitrate significantly affected pepper seedling growth. 1000 and 2000 mg kg(-1) humic acid and 50 mg kg(-1) calcium nitrate applications increased fresh and dry leaf weight, fresh and dry root weight, stem diameter, root length and shoot length. The highest rates of humic acid (4000 mg kg(-1)) and calcium nitrate (100 and 150 mg kg(-1)) decreased these criteria of pepper seedling under the saline soil condition.