Title: Sensitivity of sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) to iron excess
Abstract:Iron is an essential element in plants, but when present in high concentrations, it can cause reduction in growth and adversely affect plant yield.A greenhouse experiment was carried out in Tunja, Col...Iron is an essential element in plants, but when present in high concentrations, it can cause reduction in growth and adversely affect plant yield.A greenhouse experiment was carried out in Tunja, Colombia, under hydroponic conditions, in order to evaluate the tolerance of sweet pepper seedlings (Capsicum annuum L.) to high iron content.Thirty days after planting, 0.0 (control), 37.5, 75.0 or 150.0 ppm of Fe were added to a nutrient solution of the seedlings.The chlorophyll content index, leaf area, total dry weight, water uptake, water use efficiency, relative growth rate, absolute growth rate and net assimilation rate were found to be inversely proportional to the amount of Fe added.Based on the initial pH value, the pH increased only in the nutrient solution of plants treated with the addition of Fe.Since the variables that determine growth were severely affected even with a lower added amount of Fe, it can be concluded that sweet pepper plants are very sensitive to excess Fe in the substrate.Read More