Response of pepper plants to NO3:NH4 ratio and light intensity

Abstract Pepper plants were hydroponically grown in a growth chamber with two levels of light intensity (300 and 240 w/m2 ) and two N03:NH4 ratios (100:0 and 80:20). Plants supplied with both N forms (80:20) under high light conditions showed a decrease of nutrient uptake and produced low plant weight and yield compared to the all NO3 treated plants. By contrast, plants receiving both N forms (80:20) with light reduced over 25% showed a growth and yield slightly superior to plants supplied with N03 as sole source of N. This suggests a significant light intensity‐N form interaction that favors all NO3 nutrition for pepper at high light intensities.