ENHANCING RED CHILI (CAPSICUM ANNUUM) PRODUCTION THROUGH COMBINED SAWDUST AND VERMICOMPOST AMENDMENTS

Author Name: Narbato, Angel B. Sosa, Preciouze Ehra Gamboa, John lowie Cayanan, Rain Dionisio, Sean Cole Gonzales, Maclane, Pangilinan, Gian Carlo Macapinlac

Volume/Issue: 06/08

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/03.2026-48949321/UIJIR

ABSTRACT

This research studied the impact of using organic soil amendments to improve the growth and fruiting of Capsicum plants. The approach was to run a comparative experimental design and use qualitative narrative analysis for support. Through the Braun and Clarke (2006) thematic framework, the field data was coded to find the most common themes in the agricultural lifecycle. The analysis unveiled a "spiral" pattern where land preparation, collaborative field maintenance, and fruiting, harvesting phases that are normally considered linear steps are in fact an integrated system. Quantitatively, vermicompost was identified as the single best treatment leading to early vegetative vigor. It significantly helped in increasing plant height and number of leaves compared to both sawdust and the control group, most likely because of its high concentration of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) and presence of beneficial microorganisms. Nevertheless, at the reproductive phase, there was a change in the trend; vermicompost markedly enhanced flower production (p = 0. 00$), however, sawdust brought about greater total fruit yields over the nine, week period probably due to its nutrient release being more gradual. In fact, although these particular benefits were exhibited, growth in terms of plant structures between the treatment and control groups did not differ significantly in a statistical sense, thus it can be inferred that organic amendments mainly affected the timing of reproduction rather than the overall plant biomass. Farmers can maximize their yields by implementing integrated soil management where vermicompost application is focused on the seedling stage for building up plant structure followed by use of sawdust mulch during the fruiting.

Key words: Red Chili (Capsicum annuum), Sawdust and Vermicompost