Performance of chilli (capsicum annuum l.) grown in a lateritic soil treated with filter-cake from a cane sugar processing mill and some residual effects on soil / Md Zaki Md Jamil

Organic matter has been a critical determinant of fertility of mineral soils. A mineral soil that has been classified as infertile would usually contain very small amount of organic matter or none at all. To improve its physical and chemical properties, a soil is normally treated with organic wastes to increase its organic matter content. A study was carried out to assess the potential use of filter-cake, which is an organic waste from a cane sugar processing mill, as a soil ameliorant. It would determine the effects of various rates of filter-cake in combination with inorganic fertilizer (NPK Blue Special) on chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) grown in a lateritic soil, Terap Series, in UiTM Perlis farm. The experiment was carried out from April 2003 to October 2003. The treatment plots were arranged according to the factorial split plot design. The main plot factor was NPK Blue Special with the application rates of 0, 750, 1,500 and 2,250 kg per ha. The sub-plot factor was filter-cake at the application rates of 0, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 kg per ha. Filter-cake was manually applied to the seedbed as a basal dressing using the subsurface band application method before transplanting of seedlings. NPK Blue Special was applied as top dressing using band application method and split applications at two, five, eight and 11 weeks after transplanting. The parameters of the study were yield components, plant biomass, plant heights, soil pH and nutrient elements in soil and leaves. For determinations of soil pH and nutrient contents, soil samples were taken before the application of filter-cake, after application of filter-cake and at the end of the cropping period. Leaf samples to determine the nutrient contents were taken at the end of cropping period. Heights of plants were measured at four, eight and 12 weeks after transplanting giving three measurements of heights. Crop yields were harvested beginning at eight weeks after transplanting at weekly intervals giving a total of eight harvests. Biomass data were recorded after the final round of harvest.