Raghad Essa1*, Ghaithaa Wanas1, Aziza Ajour2 and Marwan Alabi1
1 Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.
2 Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Raghad Essa, Email: raghadessa648@gmail.com).
Received: 28/ 4/ 2025 Accepted: 25/ 6/ 2025
Abstract
The research was conducted in Ain Al-Kroum village, Al-Ghab region, Hama Governorate, during the 2024 agricultural season to study the effect of two concentrations of humic acid (2, 4 g/L) and seaweed extract (1, 2 mL/L) on vegetative growth indicators and productivity per unit area of pepper (Capsicum annuum L., Antakli variety). The experiment included 9 treatments, including the control (0 g/L humic acid + 0 mL/L seaweed extract), with three replicates and 20 plants per treatment, following a split-plot design. The main plots were assigned to humic acid fertilization, while the subplots were assigned to foliar spraying with seaweed extract. The results showed significant improvements in plant growth and productivity when using humic acid, seaweed extract, or their combination. The H2A2 treatment (4 g/L humic acid + 2 mL/L seaweed extract) outperformed all other treatments, recording the highest values for vegetative growth indicators: average plant height of 60.93 cm, number of lateral branches of 8.26 branches/plant, number of leaves of 250.9 leaves/plant, and the highest productivity per unit area of 5.47 kg/m². In contrast, the control (H0A0) recorded the lowest values: 41.31 cm for plant height, 4.06 branches/plant, 195.9 leaves/plant, and 2.68 kg/m² for productivity. The H2 treatment (4 g/L humic acid) achieved the highest individual averages for vegetative growth (57.17 cm, 7.24 branches/plant, 241.1 leaves/plant) and productivity (4.85 kg/m²), while the A2 treatment (2 mL/L seaweed extract) recorded averages of 54.19 cm, 7.24 branches/plant, 232.5 leaves/plant, and 4.73 kg/m². These improvements are attributed to the combined effect of both factors, where humic acid enhances nutrient uptake, and seaweed extract promotes vegetative growth and fruit production through plant hormones and nutrients.
Keywords: Humic Acid, Pepper, Productivity, Seaweed Extract, Vegetative Growth.
Full paper in Arabic: PDF