Liquid vermicompost as a biostimulant in chili pepper nurseries: Literature review and experimental justification

Introduction: The research focused on analyzing the effect of liquid vermicompost on the cultivation of chili bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) during its nursery stage. The starting point was the environmental problem represented by organic wastes generated in different productive sectors, proposing vermicomposting as a biological management technique to transform them into useful fertilizers. Liquid vermicompost was considered to offer nutritional and physiological advantages for plants, as it contains nutrients, microorganisms and growth hormones. Development: The study reviewed relevant scientific background, such as the works of Solórzano (2019), González-Solano et al. (2018) and Zambrano (2018), who evaluated different biostimulants and composts in horticultural crops. All agreed that the use of vermicompost, both solid and liquid, favored vegetative development and productive yield. Variables such as plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter and fruit weight were significantly improved compared to controls or traditional chemical treatments. Liquid vermicompost was shown to be an effective and low-cost alternative, suitable for small producers. Conclusions: Liquid vermicompost, applied at different concentrations, notably improved the growth and development of chili bell pepper seedlings. In addition to increasing morphological parameters, it reduced the time needed to take the seedlings to the final field. The research concluded that this organic fertilizer represented a viable agroecological option, capable of substituting conventional fertilizers, improving the quality of the substrate and strengthening sustainable practices in agricultural nurseries.