Pepper plants require fertile soil.
Peppers belong to the solanaceous group of plants along with tomatoes, eggplants and some ornamental plants. In general, peppers are heavy feeders, needing large amounts of nutrients to produce a quality crop. According to the Food & Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region, peppers and others in this group have the strongest need for nutrients from 10 days after the plants flower until just before the fruit begins to ripen.
pH Range
Pepper plants assimilate nutrients in soils with a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5. Lime reduces the acidity of topsoil with a pH lower than 5.5, but it also may lead to micronutrient deficiency if you use it in excess. Cooperative extension services through the United States provide guidance on the proper amount of amendment the soil needs based on its pH level.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium
The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom explains that nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are three of 17 chemicals plants need to develop and reproduce. Nitrogen allows plants to transform the energy from the sun into nourishment. The University of Florida Extension recommends 175 pounds of nitrogen per acre of pepper plants. Phosphorus supports plant growth. Annuals such as peppers, which only have one season to grow and produce fruit, need phosphorus in large amounts. Potassium participates with over 60 enzymes in helping plants adapt to passing conditions, such as drought and excessive heat, as well as disease. Potassium also regulates root development and water use. The calibrated Mehlich-1 soil test is used to measure how much phosphorus and potassium the topsoil needs.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a macronutrient essential for photosynthesis, the process by which plants transform sunlight into food. It also helps to activate enzymes necessary for plant development. Organic matter, commercial fertilizers and lime are all sources of magnesium. The calibrated Mehlich-1 soil test is used to measure how much magnesium the soil needs to support healthy pepper plants.
Sulfur
Sulfur supports protein, enzyme and vitamin production. It also helps the pepper plant to make chlorophyll, a substance that absorbs light and transforms it into energy the plants consume. Sulfur helps peppers grow, produce seeds for propagation, and build some resistance to brief cold spells. Rain, gypsum and commercial fertilizers are sources of sulfur.
Calcium
Calcium exists within the structure of the cell walls, allowing nutrients to be carried through the plants. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services also says that calcium counteracts "the effect of alkali salts and organic acids within a plant." Dolomitic lime and gypsum are two of the sources available for calcium. Pepper plants with calcium deficiency develop blossom-end rot.
Micronutrients
Pepper plants require boron, copper, manganese and zinc "in very small amounts," according to the University of Florida Extension. The calibrated Mehlich-1 soil test shows how much of these micronutrients your soil needs. (A calibrated boron test may not be available where you live.) Organic matter, such as grass clippings and compost, is a source of these trace elements, which help the pepper plants to produce carbohydrates, assimilate proteins, and reproduce.
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