Effect of furrow-mulching on phytophthora blight incidence and soil microbial ecology in the red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) field.

This experiment was carried out to compare the effects of furrow-mulching materials on the growth and yield of pepper, on the control of Phytophthora capsici, and soil microbial ecology in the red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). The furrow of the red pepper field was covered with non-woven fabric, black polyethylene (PE) film and rice straw after transplanting pepper seedlings. The non-woven fabric increased soil temperature and decreased soil moisture content in the rainy season in summer and the non-woven fabric and rice straw decreased soil temperature and increased soil moisture content during drought periods in summer. No-mulching and rice straw-mulching caused phytophthora blight incidence by 18% and 6%, respectively, while other treatments did not show any symptoms of phytophthora blight. The mulching materials did not affect the growth and yield of hot peppers. The non-woven fabric increased soil microbial activity and all mulching materials made uniformal conditions for soil microbial activity and diversity.