Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum) to Potassium Nitrate Seed Priming

Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is the most important cash crop in Ethiopia. However, the poor quality of the seed affects germination and seedling performance of hot pepper. Therefore, this study was initiated to investigate the germination and seedling growth response of hot pepper to potassium nitrate (KNO3) seed priming at Jimma, southwest Ethiopia under laboratory conditions. A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the effects of KNO3 concentrations, which consists five levels of KNO3 concentration (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% KNO3), nonprimed seed as a control, and the experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RBCD) with four replications. The results of the study showed that all KNO3 concentrations significantly (p <0.05) increase germination percentage, rate, seedling height, dry weight, and seedling vigour-I and seedling vigour-II except at 2% KNO(3 )concentration as compared to control. But at 1% KNO3 concentration, there was more pronounced result on the abovementioned response variables (90 cm, 9.67 cm, 9.01 cm, 2.75 mg, 811.48 mg, and 247.3 mg, respectively). Even though, this treatment resulted the most pronounced effect, KNO3 concentrations at 0.5% KNO3, 0% KNO3 (distilled water only) seed priming had also resulted higher germination percentage, rate, seedling height, dry weight, and seedling vigour-I and seedling vigour-II. Correlation analysis of the positive and significant relationship was observed between germination percentage, root length, shoot length, seedling dry weight, seedling fresh weight, seedling vigour index-I and vigour index-II, etc. Negative correlation was observed between germination rate and other mentioned parameter in the above. Therefore, we alternatively recommend these two (0.5% and 1%) levels of KNO3 concentration and more promisingly distilled water due to its simple priming protocol and availability for both subsistence and commercial type of farmers.