Tab. 4b: Leave analysis from sweet pepper at the middle (10.03.2009) and at the end (24.06.2009) of the growing period

Tab. 4b: Leave analysis from sweet pepper at the middle (10.03.2009) and at the end (24.06.2009) of the growing period.

Nutrient (mg/l) 10.03.2009 24.06.09

NO3-N 1305-1642 (good) 423-860 (low) NH4-N 293-457 44-48

P 239-287 (low) 368-440 (low-good) K 4578-6232 (low- 4274-4793 (low)

good) Mg 536-638 (good) 1016-1151 (high) S 622-749 (high) 1011-1199 (high)

Ca 479-1005 (good-high) 611-1081 (good-high) Na 14-31 (good-high) 39-49 (high) Cl 595-926 (high) 1457-2619 (high)

Mn 2,1-3 (low) 4,9-8 (low-good) B 0,85-1,77 (high) 1,27-1,76 (high) Cu 1,41-1,74 (high) 1,56-2,76 (high)

Fe 2-2,8 (good) 3,6-7 (high) Zn 9,5-13,9 (high) 12,9-16,6 (high) Mo 0,04-0,08 (low) 0,06-0,09 (low) Al 1,22-2,02 (high) 2,2-5,3 (high)

4.5 Soil nitrate content

Fertilizer application in cucumbers markedly affected nitrate content in the uppermost layer in 0-15 cm (Fig. 7a), whereas deeper layers in 15-30 cm contained much less nitrate (Fig. 7b). Type of fertilizer strongly influenced the nitrate content in the soil and values were higher with fishmeal and seaweed - mixture than with Nugro.

After a peak value of 110-160 mg/kg at the beginning of the harvest of the 1st cropping (no soil samples were taken directly after transplanting) and after transplanting of the 2nd cropping, the nitrate content remained at 20-100 mg/kg. Fishmeal and seaweed - mixture cased the nitrate content of the soil to remain at a quite high level and going ahead with a decreased increment in yield in the last