Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Organic Amendments as alternatives for Inorganic Fertilizer on growth, yield and Vitamin C content of Chili (Capsicum annum L.)
Abstract
This study was investigated to compare Biofertilizer (AMF), Biochar, Compost and Inorganic Fertilizer on Vegetative, Reproductive Properties and Vitamin C content of Chili (Capsicum annum L.) The pot experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. Control (without soil amendments) was consisted of 3000g of soil in pot with one chili plant. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates. Vitamin C content of chili fruits were tested after harvesting. Treatments were field soil only (T0), field soil and 3% rock phosphate (T1), field soil and arbuscular mycorrhizae (T2), field soil and arbuscular mycorrhizae and 3% rock phosphate (T3) field soil and 5% biochar (T4), field soil, 5% biochar and 3% rock phosphate (T5), field soil and 5% compost (T6) field soil, 5% compost and 3% rock phosphate (T7), field soil and inorganic fertilizer (T8), field soil, inorganic fertilizer and 3% rock phosphate (T9). According to Tukey’s Pairwise Comparison test, the application of mycorrhizae and compost with or without rock phosphate significantly (p<0.05) improved the relative growth rate of chili compared to T0 T4, T5 and T8. However, number of fruits were significantly high (p<0.05) with mycorrhizae, biochar and compost with rock phosphate. Vitamin C content was significantly (p<0.05) high in all the treatments except T0,T1 and T5. Organic and biofertilizer (AMF) with rock phosphate could be used as effective substitutes for inorganic fertilizers for chili cultivation in Sri Lanka.
