Effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) in rooftop garden

Low oil fertility was one of the major limiting factors for wheat yield reduction. As a result, inorganic fertilizers are commonly supplied to the crop. However, continuous and sole use of inorganic fertilizers may lead to; deterioration in soil chemical, physical and biological properties. Therefore, the study aimed at investigation of integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on crop yield and yield components, which was conducted in a field experiment in Lume district, East Shoa Zone Ethiopia during 2018 cropping season. The organic sources used were compost and vermincompost and urea and NPS were used as an inorganic source of fertilizers. These treatments consist of: T1= 5.64t/ha compost, T2= 5.68t/haVC, T3=100% recommended NP inorganic fertilizers, T4=50% recommended NP inorganic fertilizers + 2.82t/ha compost, T5=50% recommended inorganic fertilizers + 2.84t/havermincompost, T6=No fertilizers application (control). The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design replicated three times per treatment. Data were collected on wheat grain yield and yield components. Economic analysis was also performed by estimating the costs of alternative uses of organic and inorganic fertilizers as well as grain and straw prices. The results showed that the application of organic fertilizer in combination with recommended rates of inorganic NP significantly increased the grain yield of food wheat over the application of 100% mineral NP alone and the control. The application of 2.84t/ha vermicompost in combination with 50% recommended rates of NPS+urea fertilizers increases 0.58t/ha wheat yield difference over the application of 100% recommended rate of inorganic NPS alone. It can be concluded that the application of 2.84t/ha vermicompost with 50% recommended rate of inorganic NPS fertilizers has maximum rate of return and can improve soil fertility status and increase the yield of wheat than other treatments. This experiment has to be repeated over seasons and locations to make conclusive recommendations for the study area.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important and widely cultivated vegetable crops in Ethiopia. The application of organic and inorganic fertilizers highly influence yield and quality attributes of potato. In this article, the effects of different inorganic and organic fertilizers on potato yield and quality were reviewed. Potato yields explained in different terms like total tuber yield, marketable tuber yield, storage tuber weight, and unmarketable tuber yield. And qualities were dry matter, specific gravity, and starch. Fertilizers like nitrogen, phosphorous potassium, and blended fertilizers; like NPSB, NPS, NPSZB, NBS, KCL, and organic fertilizer cattle manure is major fertilizer used in potato production in Ethiopia. These fertilizers are influence yield and quality of potato in both combined and alone application forms. The application of inorganic and organic fertilizer was positively affected yield and quality attributes of potato. However, the combined application form enabled to obtain higher yields and quality than sole application. However, it enhances productivity; the sole application of inorganic fertilizer has a negative impact on soil characteristics. Cattle manure improves soil structure and increases the yield. During the combined application of inorganic and organic fertilizer, the yield and quality obtain were high and soil structure might not be affected that's why a low amount of inorganic fertilizer is utilized. Therefore, the integrated use of inorganic and organic fertilizers was suggested as the better option in obtaining higher yields, improvement in the quality of potato, and soil structure. Keywords: Cattle manure, Dry matter, Inorganic fertilizer, Starch, Total tuber yield. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-22-01 Publication date: November 30 th 2020

Fertilization is a key factor for sustaining productivity in agroecosystems. A long-term experiment in cambisol following periodical application of several types of fertilization has been running at the experimental site since 1954. In this study, we determined the impact of applied inorganic and/or organic fertilizers on the activity of soil enzymes and on the structure of microorganisms at depths of 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm. Single-factor comparison showed that use of inorganic and/or organic fertilizer had an insignificant effect on the activities of soil enzymes (at depths 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm) and also on the structure of microbial communities at both depths studied. Only soil respirations exhibited stimulation by combined fertilization. The results, irrespective of sampling depth (0–60 cm), showed that application of combined organic and inorganic fertilization stimulated the activity of glucosidases and use of inorganic fertilizer inhibited the activity of arylsulphatases. Respirations were stimulated by application of organic fertilizer and combined fertilization. Nevertheless, principal component analyses, which calculate with multidimensional data, revealed differences in samples treated by sole mineral fertilizer compared to other variants, especially in the lower layer. In general, our results indicate that use of combined fertilization may improve biological characteristics in deeper parts of soil profile and possibly increase biological activity in agroecosystems.

The broad objective of the study is to comparatively analyse the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers among yam farmers. The specific objectives are to determine farmers preference for the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers , their average yam yields per hectare and the annual income realized from the sales of yam. It also include the examination of various factors militating against the use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers .To achieve this, the study was conducted in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria.The methodology involved a stepwise random sampling of 10 wards, 19 villages and purposive sampling of 131 yam farmers. Primary data were collected with the aid of Interview Schedule that was validated by experts and tested for reliability using Test- retest method ( r = 0.83). Descriptive and Inferential statistics were used to analyse data collected for the study. Hypotheses were tested at 5% significant level. Results showed that 40.5% and 59.5% of the farmers preferred the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers respectively. Findings also indicated that there was no significant difference between annual yam yields per hectare, using organic and inorganic fertilizers. However, the study confirmed a significant difference between the income realized from sales of yam by the farmers. This might be connected to different marketing strategies being adopted by individual farmer. It is recommended that Extension Agents (EAs) should encourage farmers to adopt the use of organic fertilizers with a view to complementing the use of inorganic fertilizers which were considered very expensive and not readily available by the yam farmers.Key words: Organic fertilizer, Inorganic fertilizer, Yield, Income, Soil nutrients and Yam

Maize or corn is the most important crop as a staple food in many places in the world. It is mostly grown in dryland area with very low in soil fertility. Therefore this study aimed to investigate the effect of inorganic and organic fertilizers plus on the soil chemical changes, growth and yield of maize. The experimental designed was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in the pattern of factorial, which consisted of two factors. The first factor was Organic fertilizer plus (P), which consisted of three levels namely : P0 (without organic fertilizer plus), P1 (10 ton ha−1), P2 (20 ton ha−1), and the second factor was inorganic fertilizer (A), which consisted of three levels, namely : A0 (without inorganic fertilizer), without inorganic fertilizer), A1 (150 kg ha−1) and A2 (300 kg ha−1), with three replication. Data collected were analyzed by using analysis of variance at 5% level and significant treatments effect were separated with honestly significant difference at P ≤ 0.05. Results indicated that there were no interaction between inorganic and organic fertilizers plus rates on growth, yield and soil chemical changes. The use of organic fertilizers plus significantly improved the growth, yield and soil chemical properties. Dealing with the agronomic properties of maize showed that the application of inorganic fertilizer significantly increased the plant weight by increasing the plant height, leaf numbers and leaf area.

The technology demonstration on rice production under organic and inorganic fertilizer application was conducted to determine which of the identified treatments would give better rice growth and yield and showcase the technology to the farmers. The study was composed of three treatments. Treatment A – Inorganic Fertilizer (120-60-60); Treatment B – ½ of 50% Inorganic + 50% Vermicast RR; Treatment C – 25 bags of vermicast as organic fertilizer. An area of 778.18 square meters was divided into three plots with a measurement of 19.30 meters in length and 12.44 meters in width (19.30m x 12.44m). Between plots was provided with a 1-meter distance for the passageway and drainage for excess water. The research made use of frequency and mean to determine the growth and yield performance of NSIC Rc 160 (Tubigan 14) as applied with organic and inorganic fertilizers. Treatment variation was analyzed using one-way ANOVA. The result of the study shows that the application of inorganic and organic fertilizers gave a comparable performance in terms of growth and yield performance. However, in terms of a cost analysis of using inorganic and organic fertilizers, it is more economical to use organic fertilizer than inorganic fertilizer. It further showed that the lower the cost of production, the higher the net income of the rice production under organic fertilizer application. The researcher further concluded that the application of vermicast alone as a fertilizer source or a combination of inorganic and organic fertilizers is more cost-efficient in rice production than purely inorganic fertilizer application.

Integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers is now an indispensable part of sustainable agriculture. A pot experiment was carried out at the experimental site of Soil, Water and Environment Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh during the period of November to January (Rabi season) to evaluate the influence of interactive application of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and nutrient uptake parameters of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). In this study, “BARI Dherosh-1” variety of okra was used. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six treatments (T0= Control, T1= Inorganic fertilizers, T2= Cow dung, T3= Vermicompost, T4= Cow dung + Inorganic fertilizers, T5= Vermicompost + Inorganic fertilizers) and three replications under each treatment. The data recorded from different agronomic parameters were statistically analyzed to find out the significant difference in growth, yield and nutrient uptake of okra as induced by different combinations of fertilizer application at 60 days after sowing. The integrated effects of inorganic and organic fertilizer were observed in case of yield and nutrient uptake parameters. Combined application (T4 and T5) produced higher fruit yield and higher NPK uptake by Okra. It suggests that farmers can benefit more by the integrated input management practices than single use of either inorganic or organic amendment. South Asian J. Agric. Vol. 11, No. 2, Dec., 2025: 78-88

High and sustainable crop yields in the tropics have been reported to be only possible with judicious combination of mineral fertilizers and organic amendments. Fertilizing croppings to achieve this has usually been a difficult task to achieve. The growth and yield of maize cultivated with a complementary application of organic and inorganic fertilizers was assessed compared with sole organic and sole inorganic fertilizers between April and July 2003 and 2004 at Ibadan, Nigeria, in the degraded tropicalrain forest zone. There was a no-fertilizer treatment as the control. The organic fertilizer was an equal mixture of composted domestic waste and stale cow dung, applied at 10 tonnes ha-1. Urea and Single super phosphate were applied as the inorganic fertilizer to supply 70 kg N and 13 kg P2O5 ha-1 respectively. The mixture of organic and inorganic fertilizer treatment consisted of half the rates used for sole organic and sole inorganic fertilizer treatments: 5 tonnes organic mixture was applied, with 35 kg N and 6.5 kg P2O5. Maize plant height at 8 weeks after planting washighest with inorganic fertilizer application while the leaf area was highest with organic fertilizer application. Stover yield and cob yields were also highest with inorganic fertilizer. Complementary application of organic and inorganic fertilizers however had similar plant heights; stover yield as well as cob yields with inorganic fertilizer. Nitrogen appeared chelated with organic fertilizer application. Plant ear – leaf Nitrogen was highest (1.68%) with inorganic fertilizer while the control plots had a Nitrogen content of 1.12% which was higher than 0.84% and 0.98% N from sole organic and a complementary application of organic and inorganic fertilizers, respectively. Plant P content was increased by 136% and 15% with organic and inorganic fertilizers, respectively, but was reduced by 15% with complementaryapplication of organic and inorganic fertilizers. The K content was highest with inorganic fertilizer (1.91%). Complementary application of organic and inorganic fertilizers had a K content of 1.70% while the organic – fertilized leaves had 1.53%. Stover nutrient uptake was highest for N and K with inorganic fertilizer while the P was highest with organic fertilizer application. Cultivating maize with complementary organic and inorganic fertilizers gives a comparable cob yield as inorganic fertilizer and has nutrients higher than from sole organic fertilizer application.Key words: Maize, Fertilizer type, Nutrient uptake

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the widely used salad vegetable in Swaziland. However, there is a dearth of information pertaining to organic lettuce production. An experiment was conducted in a lath house at the Horticulture farm, Luyengo Campus of the University of Swaziland to assess the effects of organic fertilizers on yield and quality of lettuce grown in river sand. The organic fertilizers used were (a) bounce back compost, (b) cattle manure and(c) chicken manure. The rates of application were 40 tones per hectare (t/ha) for chicken and cattle manures, 1.5 t/ha basal dressing and 1.0 t/ha side dressing for bounce back compost. Inorganic fertilizers 2:3:2 (22) + 0.5 % zinc (Zn) and limestone ammonium nitrate (LAN 28%) were included at specific application rates of 955 kg/ha basal dressing and 100 kg/ha side dressing as control. The results showed that type of fertilizer applied significantly (P 0.05) differences in appearance and taste among treatments. Results of this experiment showed that inorganic fertilizers were less suitable in lettuce production in river sand when compared to organic fertilizers. It is recommended that lettuce can be grown successfully using organic fertilizers.

The application of fertilizers is a key agronomic practice in the artificial cultivation of medicinal plants, aiming to boost yields and enhance the levels of their bioactive constituents. However, systematic investigations on the influence of various fertilizers on the concentration of active compounds in saponin-containing medicinal plants remain insufficient. In this study, 966 experimental outcomes from 29 papers were analyzed via meta-analysis to examine the effects of organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, and their combined application on the levels of different saponin monomers in medicinal plants. The findings from the meta-analysis revealed that inorganic fertilizers contribute positively to the accumulation of saponins such as Rg1 in ginseng, Rb1, Rc, Rd, Re, and Rg1, in addition to the saponins from Paris polyphylla, Dioscorea, Panax quinquefolius, and Platycodon grandiflorus. Moreover, the application of organic fertilizers was found to markedly elevate the concentrations of Notoginsenoside R1, Ginsenoside Rb1, Ginsenoside Rb2, Re, and Rg1, along with Lancemasid saponins and Quinoa saponins. The combined use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers was shown to effectively increase the levels of Notoginsenoside R1 and Panax ginsenosides, encompassing Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, and Rg1. Overall, the results suggest that both individual and combined applications of organic and inorganic fertilizers have a positive impact on the enhancement of saponin monomers in medicinal plants. However, inorganic fertilizers promote the increase of saponin content, their prolonged use may lead to soil compaction and acidification, which could compromise the yield and quality of medicinal plants. On the other hand, organic fertilizers improve the soil environment and stimulate saponin accumulation, they do not supply all the nutrients required for the sustained growth of these plants. Therefore, a balanced fertilization strategy combining both organic and inorganic fertilizers is recommended as the optimal approach for cultivating saponin-rich medicinal plants.

ABSTRACT<br />Application of organic fertilizer into the soil is designated as a source of macro, micro nutrients and organic acids; it also acts as soil ameliorant that improve physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Application of high rates organic fertilizer has a constraint namely the availability and ease of application. Therefore, it is necessary to learn the use of organic fertilizer with low rates to improve the efficiency of chemical fertilizers. This research was aimed to study the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth and yield of paddy rice, as well as the efficiency of N, P, K inorganic fertilizer. Field experiment was conducted at Sawah Baru Research Station, University Farm IPB, Bogor, West Java from September to December 2013. The experiment used Randomized Block Design consisted of two factors: rates of organic fertilizer (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 kg ha-1), and rates of inorganic fertilizer (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 kg ha-1). The results suggested that the application of 1,000 kg organic fertilizer ha-1 + 400 kg inorganic fertilizer ha-1 did not show significant interaction. Application of organic fertilizer alone up to 1,000 kg ha-1 resulted in low growth and yield. Increasing rates of application up to 400 kg inorganic fertilizer ha-1 increased the growth and yield of paddy rice. The highest N efficiency was 89.19% at a rate of 500 kg organic fertilizer ha-1 + 200 kg inorganic fertilizer ha-1, whereas the highest efficiency of P and K, respectively were 69.55% and 92.52% at a rate of 750 kg organic fertilizer ha-1 + 300 kg inorganic fertilizer ha-1.<br />Keywords: NPK, organic fertilizer, paddy rice

Depletion of soil fertility is a main problem to sustain agricultural production and productivity in many countries. The use of inorganic or organic fertilizer alone has both positive and negative effects on plant growth, nutrient availa-bility and the soil. Organic fertilizer improves physical and biological activities of soil but they have comparatively low in nutrient content, so larger quantity is required for plant growth. However, inorganic fertilizer is usually immediately and fast containing all necessary nutrients that are directly accessible for plants. But continuous use of inorganic fertilizers alone causes soil organic matter: degradation, soil acidity and environmental pollution. So the integrated nutrient management system is an alternative system for the sustainable and cost-effective management of soil fertility by combined apply of inorganic with organic materials resulting in rising soil fertility and productivity without affecting environment. The objective of the present review is to assess the effect of mixing organic with inorganic fertilizer on soil fertility and productivity. The study revealed that appropriate application of organic with inorganic fertilizers increases the productivity without negative effect on yield quality and improves soil fertility than the values obtained by organic or inorganic fertilizers separately.

The debate surrounding organic versus inorganic fertilizer application in agriculture has long been a topic of discussion among researchers, farmers, and policymakers. Both types of fertilizers have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between them depends on various factors such as crop type, soil conditions, and environmental considerations. Organic fertilizers, derived from natural sources such as compost and animal manure, provide nutrients to plants slowly as they decompose, contributing to long-term soil health and fertility. On the other hand, inorganic fertilizers, also known as chemical fertilizers, contain concentrated forms of essential nutrients and provide readily available nutrients to plants, promoting rapid growth and high yields. However, excessive use of inorganic fertilizers can lead to soil degradation and environmental pollution.Numerous studies have compared the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on crop yield, quality, and soil health. Research has shown that organic farming systems can achieve comparable or even higher yields than conventional systems using inorganic fertilizers while enhancing soil organic matter content and carbon sequestration. However, the choice between organic and inorganic fertilizers depends on various factors, and integrated nutrient management approaches, which combine organic and inorganic fertilizers, Offer a balanced approach to nutrient supply while minimizing environmental impacts.The combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers in agriculture offers a promising strategy to improve produce quality while reducing the chemical load in the soil. Research studies have demonstrated that integrated nutrient management optimizes nutrient availability to plants, resulting in improved yield and quality. By judiciously combining the benefits of both types of fertilizers, farmers can achieve sustainable cultivation practices that ensure higher yields, better quality produce, and long-term soil health.Turmeric holds a significant position in Indian agriculture, both culturally and economically. India is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric globally, contributing substantially to the spice's global market.This article reviews the findings of experiments conducted at various location and agro-climatic condition to assess the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers on yield and quality characteristics of turmeric crop. The overall results indicating that the combined application of organic and inorganic application not only increase the yield but also improve the quality parameters like curcumin, essential oil content and antioxidant activity in turmeric. These findings highlight the importance of adopting INM strategies to enhance turmeric production sustainability and quality in a different agro-climatic regions.

Fertilizer management and soil nutrient profile affect plant growth. However, each plant species is unique and may require different nutrients for best growth. This study aimed to investigate the effect of organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer and compound fertilizer applications on the plant growth of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic) under polyculture system. In the present study, water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) were grown under a polyculture planting condition with okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and yardlong bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis), and treated with five different types of fertilizer regime (T1: without fertilizer, T2: organic fertilizer, T3: inorganic fertilizer, T4: compound fertilizer and T5: organic + inorganic fertilizer). For each treatment group, a total amount of 9 g m-2 of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each were applied throughout the experiment. The present results showed that under polyculture condition, no significant difference was observed in the total weight, root weight, root length and leaf number of water spinach under different treatments (p>0.05). However, significant difference (p<0.05) was found for plant height of water spinach among the five treatment groups. Furthermore, the weight of roots and shoots of water spinach was found to have positive correlation (T1: R2=0.672; T2: R2=0.799; T3: R2=0.442; T4: R2=0.779; T5: R2=0.804). In addition to crop growth, the fertilizer application also influenced the soil pH, EC, organic matter and moisture content after one cropping season. In this study, the growth of water spinach following application of organic fertilizer was found comparable to the inorganic fertilizer treatment. Incorporation of organic and inorganic fertilizer (T5) served the best condition for the growth of water spinach under the polyculture system.

The study was carried out to determine the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on tomato yield and soil quality. The study was performed in a randomized complete block design consisting of 7 treatments with 3 replications in the research farm, Shaikh Zayed University, Khost, Afghanistan. The fertilizers treatments were T1, organic fertilizer (5 t/ha); T2, organic fertilizer (10 t/ha); T3, urea (150 Kg/ha); T4, urea (200 Kg/ha); T5, mixed fertilizers (organic fertilizer 3 t/ha + urea (100 Kg/ha); T6, mixed fertilizers (organic fertilizer 6 t/ha + urea (70 Kg/ha) and T7 a control. Results indicate that applications of inorganic fertilizers with a combination of organic fertilizers increased tomato yield and improves the nutrient status of the soil. T5 showed the highest yield of tomato and followed by T4 treatment, which were 33.1 and 31.7 t/ha respectively. The lower yield were obtained in T7 and T1 treatments. The highest plant heights (205.0 and 199.0 cm) were obtained in T5 and T4 respectively, while the lowest plant heights were obtained in T1 treatment and followed by T7 treatment. Similarly, we found that a combination of both inorganic and organic fertilizers application also is the best strategy to improve soil nutrients, maintain soil fertility. Soil P2O5 and K2O, where the highest amounts were obtained in T5 and followed by T6, which were 26.5, 22.5 and 44.5 and 41.5 mg/L respectively. The control treatment had the lowest amount of P2O5 and K2O. Therefore, this study suggests that an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer with inorganic fertilizer not only increased tomato yield but also improve soil fertility.