The Effect of Phosphorus Fertilization on Pepper Growth and Production Under Saline Conditions

An experiment was carried out in southern Morocco to investigate the response of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to an increment phosphorus application under different level of salinity. It consists on the effects of optimal and suboptimal P fertilizer levels (150, 180, and 210 kg ha⁻¹) in combination with three levels of salt added (NaCl) irrigation water leading to variable electrical conductivity (EC) (ECiw = 1.8, 4, and 6 dS m⁻¹) on growth and nutrient content of pepper cultivation. Results showed a negative correlation between saline levels of irrigation water and most of the measured growth parameters. Plants grown under salinity stress treatment produce less fruit yield compared to the control (1.8 dS m⁻¹). The number of marketable fruits was strongly reduced under high salinity. Increasing P application improves the plant growth and reduced the fruit blossom end rot which was significantly correlated with better yield under saline conditions. This response induced a low accumulated salt.