Effects of Applications of Mulch and Potassium on Capsicum annum.

Abstract

Applications of organic mulch and potassium resulted in increases in yield of chilli fruit (Capsicum annuurn), of up to 170% and 113% respectively. The effect of mulch was to supply potassium to the plant, and when mulch was applied at 40 t/ha it was equivalent to supplying 210 kg/ha of K. Mortality of plants in the plots which received no mulch or potassium was high. A crop of2500 kg/ha of dry chilli fruit (10,000 kg/ha fresh) removed approximately 62kg/ha ofK from the soil. The total dry matter per plant was considerably smaller in the plants which received no mulch or potassium. Plastic mulch enhanced plant growth probably because of the reduced competition by weeds for available K. Differences in the pH and moisture content of the soil between treatments were not considered important.