JCeldran_0611 wrote:
Is there anything I can add to soil to increase its chances of
fertility?

The soil fertility is not relevant to germination. The main needs are
suitable temperature and moisture and in a few cases light (or dark). There
are a few weirdos that need triggers like smoke but chillis don't.
Germination is the process, under the control of the genes of the seed,
where the food stored in the seed is converted into a seedling that is
capable of doing photosynthesis and making its own food independently. It
is only once you have a seedling that is able to take up minerals from its
environment that soil fertility matters.

The texture rather than the fertility of the germination medium is a factor
as over heavy soil may bind tiny roots and shoots physically stoping them
from developing properly. This is why seed-raising mix has a light open
texture. If it is a problem it is too late to alter the texture of the
medium for the batch you have started.

D