FAS Abstracts 2004 Meeting Page

Agricultural Sciences (AGR): AGR-21

|search by author| |return to AGR 2004| |return to FAS 2004|

Hot pepper (Capsicum sp.) production is being developed as a niche enterprise for small farmers. However, field production practices should be in concert with environmental stewardship. Thus a 2 year study was implemented in north Florida to evaluate the response of bio-solid waste material on plant growth and yield of Scotch Bonnett and Caribbean Red hot peppers, and on quality characteristics of the soil on which the crop is grown.  The experimental design is a randomized complete block (RCB) with 4 replications.  Bio-solid materials include poultry manure, cow manure, mushroom compost, earthworm casting (each containing approximately 2% N) applied at 500 pounds acre^-1.  A 10:10:10 NPK mixture applied at 200 pounds acre^-1 and a control (bare soil) was also included. Preliminary results showed that poultry manure and mushroom compost produced fruit yields that are numerically and in some cases statistically higher (P < 0.05) compared to yield from the 10:10:10 fertilizer and the control treatment.  Yield from cow manure treatment was significantly lower than all other treatments except the control.  As the study continues, soil samples will be collected and analyzed to determine quality factors.