Effect of reduced tillage under various mulch types on soil fertility and yield of an organic pepper crop

Khaoula  Abrougui; Yassine  Hamdane; Roua Ammami; Sabrine  Hattab; Chiheb Khemis; Youssef Amor; Sayed  Chehaibi; Neji Tarchoun

doi:10.56027/JOASD.spiss082022

Authors

Khaoula Abrougui
Yassine Hamdane
Roua Ammami
Sabrine Hattab
Chiheb Khemis
Youssef Amor
Sayed Chehaibi
Neji Tarchoun

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56027/JOASD.spiss082022

Keywords:

Reduced tillage, mulching, organic farming, soil characteristics, pepper yield

Abstract

The effects of mulching on soil characteristics and plant development for pepper crops conducted in organic farming were studied in the Sahel coast of Tunisia. The types of mulching used for tests are straw mulching, compost mulching, and plastic mulching which were compared with bare soil without mulching (control). The soil characteristics under these different mulching systems were evaluated by soil physical and biological parameters such as penetration resistance at 0-60 cm layer, microbial biomass, organic matter, and water content at 0-20 cm layer. Measurements were performed every week for 50 days. The obtained results showed that compost mulching led to a better growth rate and improved the structural and water state of cultivated soil by decreasing its resistance to penetration and increasing its organic matter content. It can be concluded that the "Beldi" organic pepper crop under conservation tillage and compost mulching has presented the best combination thus leading to motivating results such as the positive effects of soil physical properties and microbial biomass on the final crop yield.

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