Browsing by Author "Aber, Becky Barbra"

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    Effectiveness of blending biochar with organic fertilizer on the performance of sweet pepper (capsicum annuum L.).
    (2026) Aber, Becky Barbra
    Sweet pepper (Capsicum annual L.) is among the horticultural crop which is high-valued with important commercial and dietary benefits, but its output in Uganda remains seriously restricted by soil fertility loss. This study evaluated the effectiveness of blending biochar with organic fertilizer on the growth and yield performance of Super Bell F1 sweet pepper. The experiment was conducted at Busitema University Farm, Arapai Campus experimental fields done during two growing seasons using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments replicated three times: biochar alone, organic fertilizer (decomposed cattle manure) alone, a blend of biochar and organic fertilizer, and an unamended control. Bio char was made from dry maize stalks through pyrolysis, while organic fertilizer was got from decomposed cattle manure. Alltreatment adjustment was applied at 180g per plant (equivalent to 5 t ha). Data collected covered vegetative growth parameters (plant height,stem girth, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, number of branches) and yield components (number of fruits, fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight, and total yield) and it was analyzed using one-way A NOVA and generalized linear models at α=0.05. The blended treatment regularly produced great results compared to sole applications and the control. In Season 1, the blend resulted in the tallest plants (65.93 cm), largest stem girth (5.01 cm), and greatest leaf area (83.09 cm²) at week 8, with all parameters significantly different from the control (P < 0.05). The blend also produced the highest coverage number of fruits (98.67 fruits) and total yield (25.23 t ha) in Season 1, while in Season 2, the blend attained the highest yield (31.98 t ha) and fruit number (175.30 fruits), significantly exceeding other treatments (P < 0.001). These findings clearly show that blending bio char with organic fertilizer creates an interactive effect that boosts nutrient availability, retention, and uptake, leading to enhanced sweet pepper growth and productivity. The study recommends that smallholder farmers should adopt biochar-organic fertilizer blends as a viable soil fertility management approach. Further research should examine long-term effects, ideal application rates, and financial practicability of this combined technique under diverse sustainable situation.