Salinity and Type of Soil Affected Seedling Emergence and Growth of Four Peppers

High soil salinity often results in poor stands, reduces plant growth and yield in peppers.  This study was to determine the effect of salinity of irrigation water and soil type on seedling emergence and growth of four peppers (Capsicum annuum) ‘NuMex Joe E. Parker’, ‘NuMex Nematador’, ‘NuMex Primavera’, and ‘Jupiter’.  In Expt. 1 and Expt. 2, seeds of the above peppers  were sown in loamy sand and silt loam soils and irrigated with saline solutions at electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.9 (tap water), 3.0, or 6.0 dS·m^-1 (Expt. 1) or at 0.0 (reverse osmosis, RO water), 0.9, or 1.5 dS·m^-1.  No seedlings were emerged when irrigated with solution at 3.0 and 6.0 dS·m^-1.  The salinity at the top soil layer increased linearly with time when tap and saline solutions were used in both soil types, while no substantial increase was found with RO water.  Salt accumulation at the top soil layer was greater in loamy sand than in silt loam.  Seedling emergence rate irrigated with RO water ranged from 70% to 80% in loamy sand and 60% to 70% in silt loam for all cultivars.  With tap water and saline solutions, the emergence rate, varied largely with cultivar and soil type, ranged from 0 to 60%.  ‘NuMex Joe E. Parker’ and ‘NuMex Nematador’ had higher emergence rates than the other two cultivars.  In Expt. 3, seedlings were germinated in potting mix and grown in 1.8-L containers.  Saline solution treatments of 1.4, 2.1, 2.9, 3.5, or 4.2 dS·m^-1 were initiated when seedlings reached 11 to 13 leaves stages.  The reduction in shoot dry weight by the five-week saline solution treatments was greater in ‘Jupiter’ and ‘NuMex Primavera’ compared to ‘NuMex Joe E. Parker’ and ‘NuMex Nematador’.