Effects of vermicompost and pelletized chicken manure fertilizer on yield and fruit quality of pepper plant

Za uzgoj paprike, uz primjenu mineralnih gnojiva, preporuča se organska gnojidba. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi utjecaj vermikomposta i peletiranog pilećeg gnojiva na prinos i kvalitetu plodova paprike te kemijski sastav tla. Monofaktorijalni pokus s paprikom sorte 'Slonovo uho' i gnojidbenim kombinacijama kojima je osigurana jednaka količina osnovnih biljnih hranjiva proveden je tijekom 2018. godine u Zagrebu. Postavljen je po metodi slučajnog bloknog rasporeda u tri ponavljanja i uključivao je četiri gnojidbene varijante: mineralna gnojiva (MG); peletirani pileći gnoj 'Orgevit' i mineralna gnojiva (PPG+MG); vermikompost 'Lumbri Humus' i mineralna gnojiva (VK+MG); vermikompost, mineralna gnojiva i vermikompostni čaj (VK+MG+VKČ). Utvrđena su morfološka svojstva i mineralni sastav plodova te tržni prinos iz dvije berbe. U morfološkim svojstvima ploda nisu utvrđene opravdane razlike obzirom na gnojidbeni tretman. Najveći broj tržnih plodova imala je kombinacija VK+MG+VKČ. U obje berbe u plodovima paprike značajno najveći sadržaj suhe tvari (7,8 i 8,8 % ST) i količine dušika (1,97 i 1,74 % N/ST) ostvarila je kombinacija PPG+MG, a kalcija (4,59 i 3,45 % Ca/ST) kombinacija VK+MG. Relativno najveći ukupni tržni prinos ostvarila je kombinacija VK+MG (2,68 kg/m2). Tretmani s VK su najviše povećali sadržaj humusa i količinu dušika u tlu, dok su najmanje utjecali na promjenu pH tla.In pepper cultivation, with the application of mineral fertilizers, additional organic fertilization is recommended. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vermicompost and pelletized chicken manure fertilizer on yield and fruit quality of pepper plant and chemical composition of soil. Monofactorial field trial with ‘Slonovo uho’ pepper variety and fertilization treatments that provided the same quantity of elementary plant nutrients was conducted during 2018 season in Zagreb. The field trial was set up using random block arrangement with three repetitions and four fertilization variants: mineral fertilizers (MG); pelletized chicken manure ‘Orgevit’ and mineral fertilizers (PPG + MG); vermicompost ‘Lumbri Humus’ and mineral fertilizers (VK+MG); vermicompost, mineral fertilizers and vermicompost tea (VK+MG+VKČ). Morphological characteristics, mineral nutrient composition and marketable yield of pepper fruit for both harvests were determined. There were no significant differences between various fertilization treatments in terms of morphological fruit characteristics. The largest quantitiy of marketable pepper fruit was observed in VK+MG+VKČ fertilization treatement. Dry matter (DM) fruit content (7,79 and 8,80 % DM) and nitrogen content (1,97 and 1,74 % N/DM) was highest for both harvests for PPG+MG fertilization treatment while Calcium (Ca) content was highest (4,59 and 3,45 % Ca/ST) for VK+MG treatment. The relatively largest overall marketable yield was observed for VK+MG treatment (2,68 kg/m2). Vermicompost treatments (VK+MG and VK+MG+VKČ) had the greatest impact on soil organic matter and nitrogen soil content increase while having the least impact on soil pH change