Assessment of cost and effect of integrated application of granular nutrient-rich poultry organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizers on biomass yield of Aloe barbadensis in agro-climatic zone of Kabul, Afghanistan

Abstract

Integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizers needs a specific formulation to enhance plant performance and reduce fertilization costs. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the cost and effects of inorganic or organic fertilizers and their integrated forms, while containing the same levels of major nutrients, on Aloe barbadensis performance under the agro-climatic conditions of Afghanistan. The treatments were: control; 200 kg ha−1 N, P2O5, and K2O each, in the form of inorganic fertilizer (IF-200); 200 kg ha−1 N, P2O5, and K2O each, in the form of nutrient-rich organic fertilizer (NrOF-200); 200 kg ha−1 N, P2O5, and K2O each, in the form of 50% IF and 50% NrOF (IF + NrOF-200); 400 kg ha−1 N, P2O5 and K2O each, in the form of 50% IF and 50% NrOF (IF + NrOF-400); and 400 kg ha−1 N, P2O5 and K2O each, in the form of IF (IF-400). The results revealed that the IF + NrOF-200 treatment led to significantly increased fresh and dry biomass yields compared to the control. The yield was also greater when the same levels of major nutrients were applied in the combined organic and inorganic forms (IF + NrOF-200) than when applied in the inorganic (IF-200) or organic (NrOF-200) forms alone. This study also reveals that, despite doubling the major nutrient levels in the IF + NrOF-400 and IF-400 treatments, the IF + NrOF-200 treatment with half the nutrient amount showed a similar result, indicating its cost effectiveness in Aloe vera production in Afghanistan.