Table 3.
Effect of effective microorganisms and nitrogen levels on membrane stability index, relative chlorophyll content, soil-plant-analysis development value, and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm and PI) of hot pepper (Capsicum annum L.) plants grown in saline soil in spring and autumn seasons.
| Treatments | MSI (%) | RWC (%) | SPAD value | Fv/Fm | PI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasons | ** | ** | ** | NS | NS | |
| SS | 79.3 ± 1.1a | 74.2 ± 1.8a | 69.6 ± 1.4a | 0.78 ± 0.01a | 5.3 ± 0.14a | |
| AS | 65.6 ± 07b | 69.8 ± 1.3b | 66.0 ± 1.5b | 0.77 ± 0.01a | 5.3 ± 0.16a | |
| EMs | ** | ** | ** | ** | ** | |
| EMs- | 70.2 ± 1.6b | 70.0 ± 1.8b | 65.1 ± 0.9b | 0.75 ± 0.01b | 5.0 ± 0.13b | |
| EMs+ | 74.7 ± 2.0a | 73.9 ± 1.0a | 70.5 ± 1.5a | 0.81 ± 0.01a | 5.5 ± 0.15a | |
| N levels | ** | ** | * | ** | ** | |
| N120 | 70.3 ± 2.1b | 68.3 ± 1.2b | 65.1 ± 1.8b | 0.73 ± 0.01b | 4.68 ± 0.12b | |
| N150 | 73.4 ± 2.3a | 72.1 ± 1.9ab | 69.5 ± 1.2a | 0.79 ± 0.01a | 5.6 ± 0.14a | |
| N180 | 73.6 ± 2.5a | 75.5 ± 1.9a | 68.8 ± 0.7a | 0.81 ± 0.01a | 5.6 ± 0.15a | |
| EMs × N | ** | ** | ** | ** | ** | |
| EMs- | N120 | 67.89 ± 2.8d | 66.94 ± 1.8d | 61.53 ± 0.67c | 0.71 ± 0.01c | 4.5 ± 0.15c |
| N150 | 72.05 ± 3.2bc | 68.53 ± 3.0cd | 67.87 ± 0.70ab | 0.76 ± 0.01b | 5.3 ± 0.15ab | |
| N180 | 70.60 ± 2.6cd | 74.62 ± 3.8abc | 66.00 ± 1.01b | 0.78 ± 0.01b | 5.36 ± 0.18ab | |
| EMs+ | N120 | 72.62 ± 3.2bc | 69.66 ± 1.6bcd | 68.65 ± 2.9ab | 0.75 ± 0.01b | 4.8 ± 0.16bc |
| N150 | 75.17 ± 3.4ab | 75.71 ± 1.3ab | 71.20 ± 2.3a | 0.83 ± 0.01a | 5.9 ± 0.14a | |
| N180 | 76.18 ± 4.3a | 76.40 ± 0.9a | 71.55 ± 1.4a | 0.83 ± 0.01a | 5.9 ± 0.22a | |
Data represent the single effects of growing seasons, EMs, N levels, or the interaction effect of EMs × N levels. Average values in each column followed by the same letters indicate no significant difference at P ≤ 0.05 using Fisher’s least-significant difference test. * and ** represent significant differences at P ≤ 0.05 and P ≤ 0.01, respectively. NS, no significant difference at P = 0.05. MSI, membrane stability index; RWC, relative chlorophyll content; SPAD, soil-plant-analysis development; Fv/Fm, maximum quantum yield of photosystem II; PI, performace index; SS, spring season; AS, autumn season; EMs-/EMs+, without/with effective microoragisms application; N120/150/180,120/150/180 kg nitrogen ha-1.