Effect of Compost Application at Transplant Stage and before Planting to the Field on Plant Growth and Fruit Yield in Bell Pepper (Capsicum annum L.)

ABSTRACT

Compost improves the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. The objectives of the present study were to determine (1) the impact of compost-amended substrate on transplant growth and mineral nutrition and, after transplanting, the effects on plant mineral nutrition and fruit yield in bell pepper and (2) the effects of preplanting compost application to the field on plant mineral nutrition and fruit yield in bell pepper. Trials were conducted at the UGA Tifton Campus and at a grower’s field. Bell pepper transplants were grown in peat-based substrate with compost at different concentrations. Transplants grown in compost-amended substrate had increased vegetative growth and increased leaf nitrogen. These transplants, however, when planted to the field, had marketable and total fruit yields similar to those of transplants grown in non-amended substrates. Field compost application (10 t·ha⁻¹) before planting resulted in increased soil organic matter and increased concentrations of several leaf nutrients in mature plants although there was no impact on fruit yield and fruit nutrients. In conclusion, bell pepper transplants grown in compost-amended substrate had increased vegetative growth, indicating that compost may be a partial substitute for peat in transplant production.

KEYWORDS:

• Fertilization
• organic fertilizer
• plant nutrition
• sustainable agriculture

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to Denne Bertrand and David Giddens for invaluable technical support. We also acknowledge the support of the following donors: United Irrigation and Roberts Irrigation Products Inc., for drip tape; Lewis Taylor Farms (TyTy, GA) for the bell pepper transplants and for collaboration for the field study; Hydro Agri North America, Inc., for calcium nitrate liquid fertilizer; and ReflecTek Foils, Inc. for plastic film mulch.