Enhancing Soil Fertility and Crop Productivity in Capsicum annuum through Organic Amendments and Bio-Stimulants in Southern Zone of India

The study aims to investigate the effects of various organic amendments and bio-stimulants on soil fertility, plant growth, and yield in Capsicum annuum (chilli) cultivation. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of these treatments as sustainable alternatives to conventional chemical fertilizers. Ten treatments were applied, including combinations of organic amendments such as farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, poultry manure, and bio-stimulants like Panchagavya, Fish amino acid, and Egg amino acid, alongside the control treatment of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) at a 30:60:30 NPK ratio. The treatments tested included FYM, vermicompost, and poultry manure, each combined with different bio-stimulants and 3G extract at 3%. The results revealed that the treatment T₈ (Poultry manure @ 6 t ha⁻¹ + Fish amino acid @ 3% + 3G extract @ 3%) was the most effective, achieving the highest fresh fruit yield (6809 kg/ha) and dry fruit yield (1224.64 kg/ha). It also improved key fruit quality parameters such as ascorbic acid (141.50 mg/100g), total soluble solids (10.95 °Brix), and calcium content (45.00 mg/100g). Organic amendments significantly enhanced soil health by increasing organic carbon content, nutrient availability, and microbial activity, while reducing stress markers like proline. In contrast, the control treatment (RDF 30:60:30 NPK) showed inferior performance in growth, yield, and soil health. These findings suggest that the combination of organic amendments and bio-stimulants offers a promising alternative to chemical fertilizers, promoting sustainable agricultural practices that improve both crop productivity and environmental resilience. Future research should focus on optimizing these organic inputs for broader agricultural applications.