Growth and yield responses of bell pepper to combined chemical and organic fertilizer applications

This study investigated various combinations of chemical fertilizer, organomineral fertilizer, and vermicompost in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivation to mitigate soil degradation and quality decline associated with the sole use of chemical fertilizers. Conducted at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, the research evaluated plant growth, fruit characteristics, and yield parameters under ten different fertilization treatments. The results showed that organomineral + vermicompost combinations achieved the highest values in plant growth, as well as early, marketable, and total yield. The highest total yield was obtained from the T8 treatment, reaching 939.50 kg da⁻¹, while the highest fruit number per plant was recorded in T2 (12.81 fruits plant⁻¹) Chemical fertilizers promoted rapid early growth; however, integrating them with vermicompost provided superior performance, particularly in terms of sustainability. These combined treatments also resulted in greater fruit length, diameter, and average fruit weightOverall, the study demonstrated that organic and organomineral fertilizer combinations can significantly enhance yield and fruit quality in pepper production while reducing chemical fertilizer use and supporting an environmentally friendly production approach.