Long-term Effects of Chemical Fertilizer and Compost Applications on Yield of Red Pepper and Soil Chemical Properties

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of long-term (21-year) fertilizer and compost treatments on the yield of red pepper and chemical properties in top-dong, Suwon. Six treatments were chosen for this work: No fertilization (No fert.), NPK fertilizers (NPK), NPK and compost (NPK+Compost), NP and compost (NP+Compost), NK and compost (NK+Compost), PK and compost (PK+Compost). The yield of red pepper for 21 years indicated the significant differences among the No fertilization, the PK+Compost, and other treatments. The relative yield index was 13% and 59% respectively, for the No fertilization and the PK+Compost if the average yield of red pepper for the NPK regards $20,048kg\;ha^{-1}$ as the yield index with 100%. Soil organic matter at the compost applied treatments significantly increased compared with the No fert. and the NPK. The average increase rates of soil organic matter by applying the compost ranged from 0.69 to $0.73g\;kg^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$. Available phosphate content in soil appeared the significant increase all treatments excluding the No fert. It is estimated that the available phosphate in soil was increased by $7.0mg\;kg^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$ by applying compost and $14.2mg\;kg^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$ by applying P fertilizer. Application of K fertilizer or the compost alone, the NPK, the NP+Compost, continuously caused soil K depletion whereas K fertilization plus the compost maintained at a constant level of exchangeable K. The results indicated that the addition of compost to NPK fertilizer is recommended for the maximum stable yield for red pepper and enhancement of organic matter though it is also needed for adjusting of P and K fertilization.