Browsing by Author "Akinbule, Abiodun Solomon"

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    Influence of Calcium and potassium nitrates on the Growth, Yield and Some Nutritional Quality Traits of Pepper Species (Capsicum spp Linn.)
    (2025-06-12) Akinbule, Abiodun Solomon
    ABSTRACT Calcium and potassium are important nutrient elements, affecting the growth, fruit yield and quality of peppers. Most of the previous studies on the influence of calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2] and potassium nitrate (KNO3) were mostly done in greenhouses, hence, the need for field evaluation. This study evaluated the influence of foliar Ca(NO3)2 and KNO3 applications on growth, yield, and nutritive quality of three pepper species (Capsicum annuum, C. chinense and C. frutescens) at the Directorate of University Farms, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (Latitude 7° 25’ N, Longitude 3° 25’ E). Field experiments were conducted in the late seasons of 2021 and 2024, and early seasons of 2023 and 2024, using Randomized Complete Block Design with four treatments; Ca(NO3)2, KNO3, alternating Ca(NO3)2 with KNO3, and no fertilizer application, replicated 3 times. Laboratory experiments were done using 4 (fertilizer treatments) × 3 (pepper species) factorial in Completely Randomized Design, replicated 3 times. Data on vegetative, reproductive, and nutritive variables were analyzed for their variance, with significant treatment means separated by Least Significant Difference (p<0.05). Pearson's correlation, Principal Components Analysis (PCA), and k-means clustering assessed nutritive variables associations, nutrient patterns, and species clusters, respectively. Foliar fertilizer applications significantly influenced pepper growth, fruit yields, and nutritive variables in the both seasons and years (p<0.05). Ca(NO3)2 and KNO3 produced taller plants (C. annuum: 22.7-22.8%; C. frutescens: 12.4-25.3%) and increased number of leaves/plant [C. annuum: 133% with Ca(NO3)2; C. chinense: 135% with KNO3] across seasons and years, compared to control. Number of fruits of C. annuum was similar with Ca(NO3)2, alternated nitrates and control, but lower with KNO3 in late season 2021, while it increased with Ca(NO3)2 in C. chinense and C. frutescens. Fruit yield was significantly enhanced by Ca(NO3)2 in C. annuum(68.9%) and C. chinense (221%), and by alternating Ca(NO3)2 with KNO3 in C. frutescens (91.0%), compared with control. Ca(NO3)2 had the highest nitrogen (C. annuum: 2353.26 mg/g), while KNO3 often resulted in higher phosphorus with (C. annuum: 272 mg/g) and potassium levels in different species and seasons. Calcium content was highest with KNO3 in C. annuum (109.84 mg/g) and alternating Ca(NO3)2 with KNO3 in C. chinense (106.30 mg/g) and C. frutescens (101.02 mg/g). Fruits of C. frutescens exhibited superior nutritive variables in the late season in both years, except in mineral content. Late and early seasons showed 5/6, and 5/2 nutrient pattern/pepper clusters, respectively. There were more nutrients associated with fruit yield in the late season compared to early season. In conclusion, optimal yields of C. annuum and C. chinense were achieved with Ca(NO3)2 application in both seasons while for C. frutescens it was achieved by both Ca(NO3)2 and alternating Ca(NO3)2 with KNO3 in the late season, and by KNO3 alone in the early season. For optimal pepper yield in Southwestern Nigeria, Ca(NO3)2 is recommended for C. annuum and C. chinense in both seasons. For C. frutescens, alternating Ca(NO3)2 with KNO3 or Ca(NO3)2 alone is recommended for late season and KNO3 for the early season.