Calcium uptake and concentration in bell pepper plants as influenced by nitrogen form and stages of development

Abstract

Calcium uptake by bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. 'California Wonder') varied by stage of plant development and N form supplied (NQ 3 -NH 4 + ratios: 1:0, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, and 0:1) in a hydroponic study. Uptake of Ca ++ was highest at bloom and during fruit expansion, making the fruit development stage the highest demand period. Calcium uptake declined with each increasing increment of NH 4 + relative to NO 3 -supplied, although fruit yield was not significantly reduced until the ratio of NH 4 + to NO 3 -exceeded 50%. Tissue Ca ++ levels in the blossom-end of the fruit were reduced whenever NH 4 + was included with N supplied. Vegetative yield of plants followed the same trend as that observed for total fruit dry weights. Our results indicate that pepper yields are higher when NO 3 -is the predominant form of N. Also, these results strongly suggest that Ca ++ fertilizer applications should precede the bloom period and continue during fruit development to ensure adequate Ca ++ availability for fruit development.

Changes in the salinity tolerance of sweet pepper plants as affected by nitrogen form and high CO2 concentration

“…Bar-Tal et al (2001) observed that decreasing the NO 3 − /NH 4 + ratio sharply decreased the uptake of cations by pepper. That response was also reported by Marti and Mills (1991), each increment in NH 4 + decreasing the uptake of K + . However, we observed that this effect cannot be directly attributed to a dilution effect derived from the greater biomass at e[CO 2 ] under salinity stress.…”

Fertilizer Program Impacts Yield and Blossom End Rot in Bell Pepper

“…Nearly all fertigation in the region is done using premixed liquid fertilizers containing Ca or K with nitrate as the N source. Growers generally avoid ammonium forms of N due to the association of ammonium with increased BER in bell pepper (Marti and Mills, 1991).…”

Development of “stem-topple” disorder inRanunculus asiaticusis related to localised disturbances in tissue calcium levels

“…In pepper, increased irrigation N concentrations and NH 4 + :NO 3 -ratios increased the incidence of blossom-end rot (Bar-Tal et al, 2001a;Marti and Mills, 1991). Increased NH 4 + levels also increased the occurrence of blossom-end rot in tomato Wojciechowski et al, 1969).…”

“…Increased NH 4 + supply, or NH 4 :NO 3 ratio, were demonstrated to reduce cation, (especially K, Mg, and Ca) uptake and levels in the organs of several plants, probably as a result of increased NH 4 + uptake through a charge balance mechanism in ion uptake (Ganmore-Neumann and Kafkafi, 1980;Marti and Mills, 1991;Bar-Tal et al, 2001b).…”