2025/10/27 by Akinbule, A. S, Salau, A. W., Bodunde, J. G. +3
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Berry genetics and cultivation research #Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies #Irrigation Practices and Water Management
paper · doi:10.82552/njhs.v29i4.100-111
Field experiment was conducted in the late seasons of 2021 and 2024, and early seasons of 2023 and 2024 at the Directorate of University Farms, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta to evaluate the effect of foliar application of Ca(NO3)2 and KNO3 on the dry matter and foliar mineral content of three pepper species (Capsicum annuum, C. chinense and C. frutescens). , Treatments comprised of three pepper species (Capsicum annuum, C. chinense and C. frutescens) and four fertilizer treatments (calcium nitrate [Ca(NO₃)₂] alone, potassium nitrate (KNO₃) alone, an alternating application of Ca(NO₃)₂ and KNO₃, and a control. These were factorially combined and laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replictions. Results showed significant effects of species, foliar fertilizer, and their interactions on most of the characters measured. Dry matter accumulation varied among species with C. chinense having the lowest fruit dry matter (0.49 g) in late 2021-22. Application of Ca(NO3)2 also enhanced fruit dry matter in C. annuum in the early 2024. C. chinense produced the highest shoot dry matter in the early 2023 as compared to all other treatments. The results further indicated a significant response in respect of foliar mineral contents. This showed that phosphorus was consistently highest under control treatment across species in the late 2024. These findings suggests that successful foliar fertilization demands highly species-specific and season-adapted strategies for optimizing productivity and nutrient management in diverse pepper cultivation systems.