Journal of Agronomy and Field Innovations

Background: Capsicum annuum L. otherwise known as sweet pepper is a high-value member of vegetable crops of immense global economic importance with production surpassing 35 million metric tons every year. Sustainable nutrient management is essential for increasing production volume and ensuring the efficiency of production while avoiding negative impact of chemical fertilizers on the environment.
Objective: This research was carried out to test the effectiveness of seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) as a plant bio stimulant for increasing nutrient absorption, efficiency of plants, and quality of fruits of Capsicum annuum L.
Methods: During 120-day period of growing plants, randomized complete block design with six variants and four repetitions was applied. In this regard, six variants have been as follows: control, recommended doses of fertilizer (RFD), RFD combined with seaweed extract in doses of 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% which was applied as foliar feed spray every 14 days starting from the moment of the fruits’ flowering. In addition, measurements of the following variables were carried out: growth indicators, physiological parameters, amount of macro- and microelements absorbed.
Results: The combination of seaweed extract and RFD (at 1.5% concentration) resulted in a statistically significant increase in height (18.2%), leaf area (22.5%), and chlorophyll content (15.8%) of the plants compared to the control. Moreover, it led to an increase in nitrogen (28.4%), phosphorus (31.6%), and potassium (25.9%) uptake when seaweed was used. Moreover, total fruit yield, average fruit weight, and vitamin C content of the fruit were increased by 35.7%, 26.3%, and 42.8%, respectively. Additionally, antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of fruits were increased by 38.6% and 34.2%, respectively.
Conclusion: The findings obtained demonstrate that the use of seaweed extract (at the concentration of 1.5%) along with the recommended quantity of fertilizers can be deemed a sustainable strategy to enhance the efficiency of nutrient use by the plants, as well as their fruit yield and quality.