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.

摘要

堆肥可改善土壤的物理、化学和生物特性。本研究的目的是确定 (1) 堆肥改良基质对移植生长和矿质营养的影响，以及移植后对甜椒植物矿质营养和果实产量的影响，以及 (2) 种植前的影响堆肥田间应用对甜椒植物矿质营养和果实产量的影响。试验在 UGA 蒂夫顿校区和种植者的田间进行。甜椒移植物在具有不同浓度堆肥的泥炭基质中生长。在堆肥改良基质中生长的移植物具有增加的营养生长和增加的叶氮。然而，这些移植物在种植到田间时，具有与在未改良基质中生长的移植物相似的可销售和总果实产量。田间堆肥应用（10 t·ha^-1 ) 种植前导致土壤有机质增加和成熟植物中几种叶片养分的浓度增加，尽管对果实产量和果实养分没有影响。总之，在堆肥改良基质中种植的甜椒移植物增加了营养生长，表明堆肥可能是移植物生产中泥炭的部分替代品。