ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Determination if type of potassium salt affects growth and yield of Capsicum annuum and Capsicum chinense under drought stress

Pepper (Capsicum spp.) growth and yield are reduced because of its susceptibility to water shortage which may be improved by application of potassium salts. Effects of concentrations of K2SO4 and KNO3 on growth and some yield parameters of C. annuum L. and C. chinense L. under artificially initiated drought were studied. Growth parameters like fresh and dry weights, Leaf Area Ratio, Leaf Weight Ratio, Relative Growth Rate and Net Assimilation Rate were determined at harvest. Yield parameters like number of flowers, number of fruit, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit fresh weight and fruit dry weight were determined. There was a significant interaction of salt types, water levels and pepper types on all the growth, yield and biomass parameters studied.