Bell pepper yield and soil properties during conversion from conventional to organic production in Indian Himalayas

Abstract

A conversion period of at least two years is required for annual crops before produce may be certified asorganically grown. There is a need for better understanding of the various management options forimplementing from conventional to organic production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate theeffects of three organic amendments on growth and yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annuumL.), thebenefit:cost ratio, soil fertility and enzymatic activities during conversion to organic production. For thatpurpose six treatments were established: composted farmyard manure (FYMC, T1); vermicompost (VC,T2); poultry manure (PM, T3) along with biofertilizers (BF) [Azotobacter+ phosphorus solubilizingbacteria (Pseudomonas striata)] and mix of three amendments (FYMC + PM + VC + BF, T4); integrated cropmanagement (FYMC + NPK, T5) and unamended control (T6). The bell pepper yield under organicmanagement was markedly lower (33–53% and 18–40% less in first and second year of conversion,respectively) than with the integrated crop management (FYMC 10 Mg ha 1+ NPK –100:22:41.5 kg ha 1) treatment (T5). Combined application of three organic amendments (FYMC10 Mg ha 1+ PM and VC each 1.5 Mg ha 1+ BF, T4) and T1produced similar but significantly higher bellpepper yield (27.9 and 26.1 Mg ha 1, respectively) compared with other organic amendmenttreatments. Both T4and T1greatly lowered soil bulk density (1.15–1.17 Mg m 3), and enhanced soilpH (7.1) and oxidizable organic carbon (1.2–1.3%) compared with T5and unamended control (T6) after atwo-year transition period. However, the N, P and K levels were highest in the plots under integratedmanagement. T1plots showed higher dehydrogenase activity values. However, acid phosphatase andb-glucosidase activities were higher in T6plots whereas urease activity was greater in T5plots comparedwith other treatments. Among the treatments involving organic amendments alone, T1gave a highergross margin (US $ 8237.5 ha 1) than other treatments. We conclude that T1was found more suitable forenhancing bell pepper growth and yield, through improved soil properties, during conversion to organicproduction