SALINITY AND NITROGEN-FERTILIZATION AFFECTING THE MACRONUTRIENT CONTENT AND YIELD OF SWEET-PEPPER PLANTS

The effects of salinity due to sodium chloride (NaCl) and nitrogen (N) concentration in the nutrient solution were studied with sweet pepper plants. Four saline treatments combined with two N fertilization were used. Nitrate-nitrogen (NO3--N) presence in the nutrient solution pro duced an increase of sodium (Na) and potassium (K) contents in leaves as well as N. Salinity promoted a reduction of K, phosphorus (P) and C a and increased the Na concentration in leaves. Calcium (Ca) concentra tions were lower in the higher NO3(-)-N treatment although N level was reached adding calcium nitrate and salinity increased P, K, Na, Ca, a nd magnesium (Mg) contents in fruits. Yield was increased in the highe st N treatment.