COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COMPOST AND CHEMICAL CONTROL AGAINST BACTERIAL WILT IN CHILLI (Capsicum annuum L.)

Bacterial wilt (BW) caused by the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) is a devastating soil-borne disease of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), with potential yield losses of 30–100%. Farmers often rely on chemical bactericides for control, but their results are inconsistent and unsustainable. By contrast, compost and organic amendments provide long-term suppression by enriching beneficial microbial populations, enhancing soil structure and nutrient cycling, and stimulating plant systemic resistance. This paper presents a comprehensive comparative study of compost and chemical control against BW in chilli. It integrates pathogen biology, epidemiology, molecular virulence mechanisms, experimental methodologies, global field evidence, socio-economic dimensions, and future strategies for sustainable management. Evidence from India, China, Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia demonstrates that compost reduces disease incidence by 30–70% and increases yield by 15–40%, while chemical control typically reduces disease by only 20–25%. The analysis also highlights socio-economic benefits of compost, including enhanced farmer resilience, reduced dependence on costly chemical inputs, and alignment with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Integrated Disease Management (IDM), anchored by compost and supplemented by resistant cultivars, sanitation, and limited chemical interventions, emerges as the most sustainable strategy.