Effect of manganese tailings on capsicum growth

Abstract

The impact of Mn in manganese waste rocks and electrolytic manganese residues on the growth of capsicum was studied via pot experiments. The product yield and manganese nutrition were mainly evaluated in this study. The results showed that the ingredients of manganese tailings were beneficial to the increase of chlorophyll contents in the capsicum. The chlorophyll contents were raised by 12.6%–28.7%, 7.18%–12.1% and 9.70%–13.7%, respectively, corresponding to the idiophase of flower bud, the initial florescence and the fruit expansion stage. Moreover, the additive significantly improved capsicum’s economic features, such as its height, stem width, fruit length and weight and the yield of fresh fruit. These parameters were raised by 11.9%–25%, 18.6%–25.6%, 20.7%–35.4%, 10.4%–27.6% and 11.4%–65.7%, respectively. At the meantime, the manganese taken up by stems and leaves of the capsicum also increased by 11.7%–23.4% and 33.9%–62.8%, respectively. The manganese which remained in the soil was less than that in the original soil due to plant absorption and rainfall loss in pot experiments. It is concluded that both manganese residues and the mixture of manganese waste rock and manganese residue could indeed be made full use of as a fertilizer which can provide Mn nutrition.