Effect of Salinity on Growth and Chlorophyll Response of Scotch Bonnet Pepper (Capsicum chinense L.) Planted in Sandy-Loamy Soil in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Soil salinity is becoming more significant in agriculture because it stresses agricultural plants. Hence, the objective of this study is to investigate the effect of salinity on the growth response of Scotch bonnet pepper (Capsicum chinense L.) planted in Sandy-loamy soil in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. The plant height, leaf area, number of leaves, production of chlorophyll measured at different concentrations of sodium chloride (0g, 6.4g, 12.8g and 19.2g of ds/m of NaCl) treatment using standard methods. Results from the study showed that plant height increased progressively in the control plants throughout the data collection period. The highest height was at the control plant in the 9th week after contamination (WAC) with a height of 30.6 ± 0.61c. This was higher significantly ((P > 0.05) when compared to the other treatments which were 13.86 ± 1.62, 13.70 ± 0.11, 10.09 ± 0.11 respectively. Number of leaves was also higher in the control when compared with the treatment. Also, a steady increase was observed throughout the duration of the study in the number of leaves whilst in the other treatments, there was observed decrease in number of leaves from 5th to 9th WAC. Leaf area was significantly higher at control than other treatments. Increasing salinity led to a significant decrease in chlorophyll production. The control plants had the highest chlorophyll production, with total chlorophyll being 41.28 µm. On the other hand, the plants treated with 19.22 NaCl ds/m had the least chlorophyll production; with total chlorophyll a being 21.12 µm. Results from this study suggest that high salinity levels can negatively affect the growth of Scotch bonnet pepper.