Influences of Silicate Fertilizer Application on Soil Properties and Red Pepper Productivity in Plastic Film House

Abstract BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate effects of silicate fertilizer application on red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) productivity with improving soil chemistry under plastic film house in paddy field. METHODS AND RESULTS: The silicate fertilizer was applied as 0, 100, 200, and 300 kg/10a as basal dressing before transplanting pepper plant seedlings. Cultivar of the pepper plant was Cheon-Ha-Dae-Se. Amounts of inorganic fertilizer applied as N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O = 19.0-6.4-10.1 kg/10a was estimated depending on soil test values. After applying 50% of nitrogen, 100% of phosphorus, and 60% of potassium fertilizers as basal dressing, the seedlings of pepper plant were transplanted. The rests of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers were applied as side-dressing after the first, second, and fourth harvests of red pepper. When comparing selected chemical properties of soils between before transplanting and after final(the fifth) harvest, soil pH, available P 2 O 5 , and exchangeable Ca