Evaluation of Pelletized Poultry Droppings Fertilizer as an Alternative Nitrogen Source for Curry Chili (Capsicum annuum) Cultivation under Protected House Conditions

Abstract

Efficient nitrogen management is essential for high-value crops such as curry chili (Capsicum annuum), where excessive use of urea can degrade soil and contribute to environmental pollution. This study evaluated pelletized poultry droppings, derived from Single Super phosphate amended with poultry droppings, as a partial or full replacement for urea under protected house conditions, following Department of Agriculture recommended nutrient management practices. The pellets contained 2.2% nitrogen and were applied at levels equivalent to urea (kg/ha). The experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six replicates per treatment. Five nitrogen-equivalent treatments were applied: T1—100% urea (control), T2—75% urea + 25% pellets, T3—50% urea + 50% pellets, T4—25% urea + 75% pellets, and T5—100% pellets. Growth parameters, including plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, and stem girth (mm), were recorded at 50% flowering stage and at the first harvesting stage. Results showed that there were no significant differences (p < 0.05) among treatments, indicating that nitrogen from pelletized poultry droppings was sufficient to support normal vegetative growth of curry chili. These findings demonstrate that pelletized poultry droppings can be used as a sustainable nitrogen source to partially or fully replace urea in curry chili cultivation, supporting environmentally friendly fertilizer management strategies.