Organic farming systems rely on the soil fertility management in order to enhance the chemical, biological and physical properties of the soil for the optimization of the final crop production. In this study, effects of different pre-crops (vetch, faba bean and broccoli) and fallow with two different fertilization strategies (compost tea and commercial fertilizer) on organic pepper production and soil physical and chemical properties were evaluated. The highest pepper yield and gross margin were obtained in subplots previously cultivated with faba bean as pre-crop and fertilized with compost tea. During 2008-2009, soil physical and chemical properties did not present significant differences. Results obtained during the three-year experiment were evaluated with respect to soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and organic matter (OM) contents.
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Soil OM and N contents displayed an increase in all treatments in opposition to soil P and K contents that showed a slight decrease from one year to another.
