Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization and Its Application Systems on Vegetative Growth, Fruit Yield and Quality of Sweet Pepper

Two field experiments were conducted on sweet pepper plants (cv. California Wonder) during the successive summer seasons of 2000 and 2001, in the Agricultural Experimental station, Alexandria University, at Abies. The objective of these experiments was to determine the effects of nitrogen rates (60, 90 and 120 kg fed -1 ) and their application systems (three, four, five and six split applications), on vegetative growth, fruit yield and quality of sweet pepper. The obtained results indicated that increasing N applied rate was accompanied with significant increases in plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and dry mass plant -1 . Moreover, higher yield potential (yield plant -1 , number of fruits plant -1 and average fruit weight -1 ) and better fruit quality (fruit dry matter, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid and k content) seemed to be associated with the application of 90 kg N fed -1 . Increasing number of split N applications up to six split doses, significantly, increased vegetative growth characters; plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and dry mass plant -1 . Leaf's N content, total fruit yield plant -1 , number of fruits plant -1 and average fruit weight and some fruit quality characteristics were positively and significantly responded to the frequent N applications up to 5 or 6 doses. However, early yield was significantly decreased. Leaf's mineral contents (P and K) were not significantly affected. The interaction between N rates and their application systems reflected significant differences for most of the studied characters, and revealed that the rate of 90 Kg N fed -1 when applied at six split doses; at transplanting, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks after transplanting, appeared to be the most efficient combination treatment, which favored the production of high yield with acceptable fruit quality. J.Agric.&Env.Sci.Alex.Univ.,Egypt Vol.4 (2)2005 59