NANO NPK AND NANO ZINC FERTILIZATION EFFECTS ON SWEET PEPPER FRUIT QUALITY

8th International Scientific Conference Modern Trends in Agricultural Production, Rural Development and Environmental Protection (2026) [pp. 13-22]  

 

AUTHOR(S) / AUTOR(I): Marina S.T. Stojanova , Dragutin A. Đukic , Monika Stojanova , Blazo Lalevic , Yalcin Kaya 

 

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46793/8thMTAgricult.013S

ABSTRACT / SAŽETAK:

Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a nutritionally valuable crop, rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds. Optimizing fertilization strategies is crucial to enhance both yield and fruit quality. This study evaluated the effects of conventional mineral fertilization and foliar applications of nano NPK combined with nano Zn on the physiological, biochemical, and quality traits of sweet pepper ‘Bela dolga’ under the agroecological conditions of Strumica, North Macedonia. The experiment included four treatments: control, conventional NPK, and nano NPK combined with 3 g/L or 5 g/L nano Zn, with three replications per treatment. Leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, fruit sugars, organic acids, antioxidant compounds (phenolics, flavonoids, vitamin C, carotenoids), fruit firmness, and soluble solids content (°Brix) were assessed.

Results showed that nano-fertilization, particularly with 3 g/L nano Zn, significantly enhanced chlorophyll a (2.09 mg/g), total chlorophyll (2.88 mg/g), glucose (1.86 g/100 g), total phenolics (135.93 mg GAE/100 g), vitamin C (137.87 mg/100 g), fruit firmness (21.29 N), and °Brix (5.88) compared to the control and conventional NPK. These improvements were mechanistically linked to enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, carbohydrate metabolism, and zinc-mediated enzymatic activity. In conclusion, foliar application of nano NPK combined with nano Zn at 3 g/L represents an effective strategy to improve sweet pepper productivity, nutritional quality, and antioxidant capacity, highlighting the potential of nano-fertilizers for sustainable horticultural production.

KEYWORDS / KLJUČNE REČI:

Sweet pepper, nano-fertilizers, zinc, fruit quality, antioxidant capacity

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / PROJEKAT:

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