<![CDATA[Pruning, combined with fertilization, is a feasible agricultural technique to extend the harvest period of bird's eye chilli plants, thereby enhancing farmers' income. This study aimed to examine the interaction between controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) and NPK doses and to determine the optimal dosage of both fertilizers, considering the residual effects of CRF on the growth and yield of bird's eye chilli plants following pruning on Ultisol soil. The experiment was conducted from September 2024 to January 2025 at the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Andalas. A Split-Plot Randomized Complete Block Design was employed, with the main plot representing the residual effects of CRF, while the subplots corresponded to different CRF and NPK dosages. The main plot treatments included CRF residual effects at 750 kg/ha, 1000 kg/ha, and 1500 kg/ha, whereas the subplots consisted of CRF application at 750 kg/ha, 1500 kg/ha, and NPK at 1200 kg/ha. Data were subjected to variance analysis (ANOVA) and further assessed using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at a 5% significance level. The results indicated no statistically significant interaction between CRF and NPK dosages and the residual effects of CRF. Applying CRF at 750 kg/ha was the most effective across all residual CRF levels among all tested treatments. The residual CRF dose of 1500 kg/ha positively impacted plant development and fruit production. The findings also revealed that the residual CRF effect contributed to an increased nitrogen supply in the soil, reducing the necessity for additional nitrogen fertilization for bird's eye chilli after pruning cultivation.]]>
