Physical and chemical properties of water treatment residue and the characteristics of red pepper growth by using it

Physical and chemical properties of the water treatment residue (WTR) and the WTR _cp, which contained compost (CP), were measured, and the effect of the properties on growth of the red pepper (Capsicum annuum 'Takanotsume') was studied to reuse the WTR as an alternative material for decomposed granite soil (DGS). The physical properties of relative gas diffusivity (D/D ₀), saturated hydraulic conductivity (K ₁), water retention curve, porosity and plant-available water, and the chemical properties of total-N and cation-exchange capacity (CEC), etc. were compared between the WTR and DGS, and between the WTR ^cp and DGS ^cp respectively. D/D ₀, K ₁, total-N and CEC were higher in WTR _cp, than in DGS _Cp. The growth of the red pepper was better in WTR _cp, than in DGS _cp because the physical and chemical properties of the WTR _cp were considered to be beneficial to the growth of the red pepper. The WTR _cp was suitable as an alternative material of DGS _cp.