Effects of Soil Supplementation with Organic Fertilization from Earthworm Casts and Inorganic Fertilization from NPK on Growth, Development and Yield of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Plants

Abstract

The use of organic source nutrients for quality and quantity development in crop production is gaining global attention. Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of soil supplementation with nutrient from enriched earthworm casts, produced under Gliricidia seedlings, inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizae and directly applied inorganic fertilizer (NPK) on the yield of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Bio-fortified earthworm casts produced by earthworms (Hyperiodrilus africanus) fed with leaf mulch of a leguminous plant were applied to pepper. Ten treatments were replicated ten times in Complete Randomized Design. Six weeks old pepper seedlings were transplanted into each pot. Casts from different sources were added to pepper accordingly. Inorganic fertilizer was applied to the ninth treatment while the tenth treatment served as control. Statistical analytical results showed that soil supplementation with earthworm casts promoted vegetative growth and reproductive growth. Casts produced under inoculated Gliricidia and mulched soils (G+M+Mu+) showed a significant difference (p Gliricidia soils supported higher pepper fruits and leaf biomass yield. Thus, nutrient supply by bio-fortified earthworm casts (serving as composite tablets).