Influence of Seaweed Extract and Vesicular–Arbuscular Mycorrhizae on Growth and Development of Bell Pepper

Liquid extracts of marine brown algae are marketed for use in agriculture and horticulture. Seaweed extracts are marine plants rich in vitamins and minerals that are known to improve root development, plant growth, and increase nutrient uptake. Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) is also known to increase nutrients uptake and aid in water absorption. The main objective of this study was to examine the effect of application of seaweed extract and VAM on the growth and development of bell peppers. The study was conducted in a greenhouse at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Agricultural Experiment Station for 80 days in a complete randomized design with four treatments (Control, Seaweed, VAM, and Seaweed plus VAM) with four replications each. Treatments were applied twice; during sowing of the seeds and again at transplanting. Liquid seaweed was applied both foliarly and at the base of each plant every two weeks at the rate of 150 ml per plant. Nitrogen fertilizer (250 ppm) was added once at 500 ml per pot throughout the study. Fruit number, fruit weight, plant height, root length, and root and shoot dry weight were determined. There was no significant difference between the treatment for fruit weight and root length; however, there were significant differences in shoot height and root and shoot dry weights in the seaweed treatment. Significant differences were also found in the height, root dry weight and shoot dry weight.  Further studies will be conducted to evaluate the effects of seaweed and VAM on bell peppers growth and development.