THE ROLE OF POTASSIUM IN ALLEVIATING BORON TOXICITY AND COMBINED EFFECTS ON NUTRIENT CONTENTS IN PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.)

S. Dursun, H. Samet, Y. Cikili

Abstract: As regards the interaction between boron (B) and potassium (K), there is limited our knowledge, and the nature of this complex interaction is still clearly unknown. The present study was based on the hypothesis that K might alleviate the detrimental effects of excess B. For this purpose, the effects of three levels of K (0, 200, and 400 mg kg-1) and four levels of B (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg kg-1) on the growth and mineral nutrient contents of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were investigated in greenhouse natural light conditions. Plant growth was dramatically restrained by excess B, while added K partially attenuated the inhibitory effect of excess B on plant growth. However, this effect was seen more in the shoots than in the roots. Along with increasing levels of B, additions of K decreased the B content of the pepper shoots. Added B increased the shoot contents of phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and sodium (Na), while added K decreased the shoot contents of P, Mg, Ca, and Na. It was concluded that addition of K to the growing media can be beneficial in alleviating plant growth reduction and mineral imbalances caused by excess B.

Keywords: alleviation; boron toxicity; Capsicum annuum L.; nutrient content; potassium

Date published: 2017-09-15