Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer ISSN:0367-6315(Print) 2288-2162(Online) 한국토양비료학회 학회지

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 20,048 kg 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 0.73 g 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 7.0 mg kg^-1 yr^-1 by applying compost and 14.2 mg 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.

Changes of yields of red pepper in a long-term (1994-2014) fertilization experiment. Error bars represent standard error of the average red pepper yield for every 3 year period from 1994 to 2014.