Compost for nitrogen fertility management of bell pepper in a drip-irrigated plasticulture system
2005
Aram, K. | Rangarajan, A.
Two types of commercial compost produced from manure and food waste or brewery waste solids were tested for supplying the N requirements of a bell pepper crop in a drip-irrigated plasticulture system over two seasons. Composts were tested at 40 and 80 Mg.ha(-1), and combined with 67 and 133 or 0 and 67 kg.ha(-1) N applied as mineral fertilizer in the first and second seasons, respectively. Both types of compost increased total soil carbon and N content relative to unamended soil. Compost amendment also increased soil NO3-N, NH4-N and N mineralization potential throughout the season, but yields were not affected. Increasing compost amendment rate from 40 to 80 Mg.ha(-1) did not increase N levels in soil or plants. Yield was not affected and season biomass accumulation was inconsistently affected by compost amendment. Commercial composts thus released mineral N in the first year of application, but supplementation with mineral fertilizer may be necessary depending on seasonal variation of N release and crop need.
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