Outcome of Monitoring the ability of compost to provide sufficient nitrogen to a bell pepper crop under drip irrigation

Given the fertilization of the plot over the season we are limited in the conclusions that we can make regarding the release of nitrogen from compost and its beneficial effect on the yield of peppers. In short however we did see the following:

1) no large release of nitrate-nitrogen from even the 24 T/A treatment of compost;

2) substantial release of ammonium both early and late in the season from all compost treatments;

3) substantial increases in microbial biomass even 157 days after application of the compost with as little as 6 T/A of compost.