EFFECT OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON VEGETATIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE GROWTH OF PEPPER PLANTS UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS

The present research was carried out to evaluate response of paprika pepper (Capsicum annum L.) to nitrogen (N) fertilizer under field conditions. Nitrogen was supplied in four levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha(-1)). Plant height, leaf chlorophyll content, fruit weight, yield, seed number, 1000 seed weight and vitamin C were assessed at immature and mature stages. The results showed that plant height, lateral stem length and leaf chlorophyll content were influenced by N fertilizer. Data indicated that fertilization with 50 g N ha(-1) resulted to the best yield and quality components at ripening stage. Although, there was no significant difference in vitamin C content among treated plants with different nitrogen levels at mature stage, but significant differences were shown between treated plants and control. Thus, these results showed that fertilization with 50 kg N ha(-1) had strong impact on vegetative and reproductive growth of paprika pepper under field conditions.