Effect of cow vermicompost on antioxidant activities and fruit quality of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

چکیده مقاله

Cow vermicompost has considered a valuable fertilizer for sustainable agriculture. The present investigation undertook to evaluate the effect of cow vermicompost on antioxidant compounds and fruit quality of pepper under field conditions. The experiment designed in a randomized block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of four levels of cow vermicompost (0, 5, 10, and 15 t ha-1). The results indicated that fruit antioxidant activity, total flavonoid, carbohydrate, and carotenoids contents influenced by cow vermicompost, but total phenolic and capsaicin content weren’t affected significantly by cow vermicompost treatments applications. Cow vermicompost applied to at 15 t ha-1 resulted in the highest fruit antioxidant activity in the first and second season 30% and 28% (respectively) and carbohydrate content 25% and 34% (respectively), while the lowest values recorded in the control. The highest total flavonoid content (373.50 and 343.13 mg 100g-1, respectively in 2017 and 2018) obtained in plants treated with 10 t ha-1 of cow vermicompost, while the lowest values recorded in the control. In 2017 and 2018, lycopene content (33 and 31%, respectively) in the concentration of 5 t ha-1 of cow vermicompost, were higher than the control treatment. Also, the greatest β –Carotene content (863.03 mg kg-1) recorded in treated plants with 5 t ha-1 of cow vermicompost in 2018 seasons. The results confirm that the use of cow vermicompost has a positive effect on the antioxidant activity and fruit quality of hot pepper under field conditions