Comparative evaluation of organic foliar fertilizers (vermiwash, rabbit urine and nutriplant organic plus) on growth and yield of green peppers (capsicum annuum l.) variety: california wonder

Abstract

Green pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production is often limited by declining soil fertility and the high cost of inorganic fertilizers. This study evaluated the effects of vermiwash, rabbit urine, and Nutriplant Organic Plus Fertilizer (NOPF) on the growth, yield, and economic performance of green peppers under open-field conditions. The field experiment consisted of five treatments which includes rabbit urine (T1), vermiwash (T2), rabbit urine plus vermiwash (T3), NOPF (T4), and an untreated control (T5). Data were taken on plant height, leaf area, fruit number, fruit weight, and profitability. Analysis of the data indicated statistically significant differences (P < 0.001) among treatments for all evaluated growth and yield parameters. NOPF consistently produced the highest plant height (79.2 cm), leaf area (45.74 cm²), fruit number (51.76 fruits per plant), and fruit weight (20.07 kg per plant). The combined application of rabbit urine and vermiwash ranked second in all growth and yield parameters and produced the highest net profit of $40.10 due to its low production cost and high yield response. The control treatment exhibited the least values for all assessed parameters. Economic analysis showed that although NOPF produced the highest yield and revenue, its profitability was reduced by higher input costs. The study concluded that NOPF is the most effective treatment for maximizing growth and yield of green peppers, while the combined application of rabbit urine and vermiwash is the most cost-effective option for smallholder farmers. Therefore, the use of organic nutrient sources enhances sustainable green pepper production and improve farm profitability.