Summary
This field trial examined root–soil interactions in four pepper accessions cultivated under organic and conventional farming systems, assessing rhizosphere and bulk soil properties alongside plant performance. Organic farming demonstrated higher microbial counts, enzymatic activities, and nitrogen mobilisation compared to conventional management. The findings highlight marked genotype-by-management interactions—notably in Serrano and Piquillo accessions—suggesting that future breeding for soil-tailored agriculture should account for cultivar-specific rhizosphere modification capabilities.
UK applicability
The findings are potentially relevant to UK horticultural production of peppers, though typically undertaken in protected cropping. The emphasis on genotype-dependent soil–plant interactions could inform UK breeding programmes and organic certification standards, though direct translation of soil biology data requires validation under UK climate and soil conditions.
Key measures
Induced soil respiration, enzymatic activities, microbial counts, nitrogen metabolism (rhizosphere and bulk soil), root morphology, plant production
Outcomes reported
The study measured differences in soil respiration, enzymatic activities, microbial counts, nitrogen metabolism, root morphology, and plant production between organic and conventional farming systems across four pepper accessions. Results demonstrated genotype-dependent modifications of rhizosphere properties, with organic farming showing elevated microbial activity and nitrogen mobilisation.
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