Composts from bovine rumen and chicken litter improve soil fertility and promote the growth of pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)

Abstract Organic waste from agricultural activities has the potential for reuse when treated and applied to the soil as organic fertilizers. This study investigated the effects of composted bovine ruminal content (CBR) and composted chicken litter (CCL) on the soil attributes, growth, and nutrition of Capsicum chinense Jacq. plants. The experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, using a randomized block design with four replications in a 3⨯2 + 2 factorial scheme. Treatments included doses of 30, 60, and 90 Mg ha-1 of CBR and CCL and two additional treatments (mineral fertilization, NPK; unfertilized soil, CK). The monitored variables included soil biological and chemical attributes, plant nutritional status, biometry, and dry matter. Results indicate that organic compost has the potential to improve soil attributes, such as pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium, microbial biomass carbon, and soil respiration. Moreover, plant variables were positively affected by CBR and CCL, with a linear increase in response to CBR and a quadratic increase due to CCL. Nutrient concentrations in the leaves increased with compost application, except for iron. Therefore, CBR and CCL have the potential to improve soil chemical and microbiological attributes as well as support the development and nutritional status of Capsicum chinense Jacq. plants, suggesting that the use of organic waste as a fertilizer is a sustainable cultivation strategy.