Usage Of Chemical Fertilizers Research Articles

Determining the Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on the Growth of Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Rajat Rekha

Tuberose, a valuable ornamental crop, requires optimized nutrient management to maximize its potential. With increasing concerns about chemical fertilizer usage, integrated nutrient management (INM) offers a sustainable alternative. This study investigated the effects of INM on Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Rajat Rekha, exploring combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers to promote growth and productivity. The results showed that integrated nutrient management significantly enhanced growth parameters. Specifically, the treatment combining 75% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF) with 2 kg Farm Yard Manure (FYM)/m2, 300g Vermicompost (VC)/m2, Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB), and Azospirillum (T15) yielded superior results. This treatment reduced days to sprouting (12.10 and 14.18), and improved plant height (40.8 and 41.7 cm), leaf length (48.0 and 48.6 cm), leaf width (1.78 and 1.80 cm), and leaf number (60.8 and 61.4). These findings suggest that integrated nutrient management can enhance Tuberose productivity while minimizing chemical fertilizer reliance. The identified optimal treatment combination offers a viable strategy for sustainable Tuberose cultivation, contributing to environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Future research can focus on scaling up these results and exploring potential applications in other ornamental crops.

The Effect of Mycorrhiza and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Supplementation on Zea mays saccharata Sturt. Growth and Productivity Grown on Low Nutrients Soil

Marginal land has low nutrient content (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). Addressing nutrient deficiencies on marginal land requires a strategic approach. Biological fertilizers like Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance nutrient availability through symbiotic interactions. In addition, organic fertilizers such as compost could provide organic matter and improve soil structure to increase plant growth and productivity. Combining these three fertilizers with the addition of low doses of NPK fertilizer can increase the growth and productivity of maize crops on sub-marginal land. This study aims to determine the effect of AMF, consortium of PGPR, and a low dose of NPK on the growth and productivity of maize and soil nutrients on sub-marginal land by measuring plant growth up to 8 WAP (week after planting) (parameters: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, chlorophyll content, stomatal density) and productivity (parameters: cob length, cob weight with husk, fresh weight, dry weight) and levels of N, P, and K elements at 8 WAP in the soil after planting. All treatments showed an increase in the level of N and K elements, while the P element showed a decrease compared to the control (soil without treatment). Moreover, each parameter did not show a significant difference, but the P2 (Compost + PGPR consortium + AMF + 50% of NPK) treatment showed the best growth and productivity. Overall, the data showed the utilization of PGPR and AMF combination was able to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizer by 50%.

Groundwater contamination modelling in Ayad River Basin, Udaipur

Groundwater, a vital freshwater resource catering to agricultural, domestic, and industrial needs, faces a pressing challenge of contamination due to escalating human activities. This study focuses on the Ayad River Basin in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan, employing the FEFLOW simulation code for the first time. A steady-state numerical model and a groundwater contaminant prediction model for total dissolved solids (TDS), nitrate, and fluoride were developed, simulating trends over the next five years with an accuracy exceeding 95%. The results reveal an eastward increase in TDS, nitrate, and fluoride concentrations, attributed to contamination from two waste disposal sites-Titadi and Baleecha. Titadi, operational for four decades until closure in 2010, retains residual waste over 32 thousand m2. The initiation of a new dumping ground at Baleecha by the Udaipur Municipal Corporation post-2010 exacerbates regional contamination. Nitrate contamination is particularly high in agricultural zones with excessive chemical fertilizer usage. Of the 27 scenarios tested, 23 support using the water for irrigation but would require treatment before using it for drinking. Recommendations include deploying a chemical sensor network for real-time data input into the web enabled FEFLOW model, real-time monitoring and alerts, and a mobile application providing personalized guidance on water usage and health risks in case of contamination. This study can be beneficial to decision-makers, who work on the policy and groundwater management strategies.

Evaluating Cadmium (Cd) Pollution in Sleman Regency’s Rice Fields

The research aims to investigate the Cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice fields within Sleman Regency due to its potential environmental and human health impact. The study was conducted from January to June 2023 and involved collecting soil samples from 23 irrigated rice fields within Sleman Regency with a grid sampling approach. Composite soil samples were created by blending five individual sub-samples from the cultivated layer (0-20 cm). The Cd levels in these samples were investigated using the Atomic Absorption Spectro-photometer (AAS) method. The findings revealed that all the sampled rice fields in Sleman Regency exceeded the critical limit of Cd concentration. The analysis of contamination factors (CF) and potential ecological risks (Er) indicated that the Cd contamination in Sleman Regency had reached a highly polluted level, carrying potential ecological risks. The extent of Cd contamination, primarily resulting from human activities (EF > 1), fell within the severe to extreme range (I-geo = 4-5). As a result, remediation measures are required to address the Cd contamination in Sleman Regency’s rice fields. These findings call for reducing the usage of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. Future studies should determine the possibility of cadmium accumulation in rice and its transfer from soil to rice.

Comparative Efficiency Analysis of Organic and Conventional Melon Farming

Abstract Globally, the impact of chemical fertilizer usage in agricultural cultivation techniques is increased production. This phenomenon leads to a dependence on its usage among farmers. However, the current situation in Indonesia is experiencing a scarcity of chemical fertilizers, resulting in high prices. One effort to improve this situation is through organic farming. Organic farming is a method that emphasizes the principles of natural ecosystems in the production process while yielding high-quality products. One approach to achieving organic farming is the use of organic fertilizers. This article uses a system literature review method regarding organic and conventional melon agribusiness. This article discusses the efficiency of organic and conventional melon farming from an environmental, human health, and economic perspective. Indonesian statistical data from 2021 indicates a 6.54% decrease in melon production, amounting to 129,147 tons. This decline is caused by the potential yield of melon varieties in Indonesia, ranging from only 36 to 43.91 tons per hectare, with fluctuating results. The issue of melon production in Indonesia is attributed to cultivation techniques reliant on chemical substances such as chemical fertilizers. Melon cultivation that adopts organic farming practices demonstrates that a 10% increase in organic fertilizer usage can lead to a 4.2% increase in melon production. The result indicates that organic melon farming is more efficient and profitable for farmers due to its higher market value.

Unleaded agriculture: Myth to reality by wetland microbial flora

AbstractWetlands, refer to the confluence with regards to land and water having a rich biological diversity with multiple purpose. As per the Ramsar Convention, framed in August 2002, East Kolkata Wetlands have been considered to be of global significance. Although inappropriate supervision of these wetlands, has led to the gradual deterioration of this wetland. In this present study, the soil sample was collected from these reclaimed agricultural wetlands of Chowbaga area, of East Kolkata areas with coordinates of 22.5296°N, 88.4207°E. The predominant or lingering bacterial flora was isolated from the soil surrounding the rhizospheric region of Cucurbita sp. and Zea mays and their plant growth promotion properties of the lingering bacterial flora were analyzed. These plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) included some species of Bacillus sp. that could augment plant growth by different methodologies like nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, phytohormone synthesis, and siderophore production. One of the bacterial isolates DPP(C) showed highest ability of siderophore production of 37.89% at 48 hours, whereas DCP(A) showed better capability in IAA production of 56.785 μg/mL than rest of the bacterial isolates. These reclaimed agricultural lands were found to have very high quantities of heavy metals, especially lead. All the bacterial isolates, were found to have great potential in lead mitigation, whereby they could adsorb up to 8.28% of lead. Some studies have shown the capability of microbial degradation for bioremediation of organic forms of lead and thereby can be removed from agricultural field for longer period of time. The prospective potential use of PGPR has gradually escalated, since it is one of the best substitutes against the constant usage of chemical fertilizers as well as pesticides. The use of these PGPR is one of the most reliable methods for ensuring sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, in future, the PGPR population will be correlated with the nutrient availability and productivity of the plants.

The Intention of Using Biofertilizer Among Shallot Farmers in Nganjuk Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia

The excessive use of chemical fertilizer leads to a critical contribution to the environment, such as the decline of soil fertility and shallot productivity in the future. Whereas biofertilizer is one of the alternative ways to diminish the usage of chemical fertilizer to support sustainable agriculture. However, the majority of shallot’s farmers have a lack of knowledge towards biofertilizer. This study aims to analyze the influence of attitude, subjective norms, and perception toward the intention of using biofertilizers. This research was conducted in September 2022 – November 2022 in Gondang and Rejoso District, Nganjuk Regency, East Java, Indonesia. The respondents are considered by census method, and it is distributed to 140 shallot farmers who consist of biofertilizer users. The data was analyzed by using Partial Least Square (PLS) in order to examine the influence of attitude, subjective norms, and perception towards the intention of using biofertilizer. Overall, it is illustrated that attitude, subjective norms and perception have a positive and significant influence towards the intention of using biofertilizer among shallot farmers.

Invisible Inhabitants of Plants and a Sustainable Planet: Diversity of Bacterial Endophytes and their Potential in Sustainable Agriculture.

Uncontrolled usage of chemical fertilizers, climate change due to global warming, and the ever-increasing demand for food have necessitated sustainable agricultural practices. Removal of ever-increasing environmental pollutants, treatment of life-threatening diseases, and control of drug-resistant pathogens are also the need of the present time to maintain the health and hygiene of nature, as well as human beings. Research on plant-microbe interactions is paving the way to ameliorate all these sustainably. Diverse bacterial endophytes inhabiting the internal tissues of different parts of the plants promote the growth and development of their hosts by different mechanisms, such as through nutrient acquisition, phytohormone production and modulation, protection from biotic or abiotic challenges, assisting in flowering and root development, etc. Notwithstanding, efficient exploitation of endophytes in human welfare is hindered due to scarce knowledge of the molecular aspects of their interactions, community dynamics, in-planta activities, and their actual functional potential. Modern "-omics-based" technologies and genetic manipulation tools have empowered scientists to explore the diversity, dynamics, roles, and functional potential of endophytes, ultimately empowering humans to better use them in sustainable agricultural practices, especially in future harsh environmental conditions. In this review, we have discussed the diversity of bacterial endophytes, factors (biotic as well as abiotic) affecting their diversity, and their various plant growth-promoting activities. Recent developments and technological advancements for future research, such as "-omics-based" technologies, genetic engineering, genome editing, and genome engineering tools, targeting optimal utilization of the endophytes in sustainable agricultural practices, or other purposes, have also been discussed.

Preparation and Characterization of NPK Nutrient Loaded Electrospun Cellulose Acetate Nanofiber Mat to be used as a Slow-release Fertilizer


 
 
 A major unsolved issue with chemical fertilizers is the low nutrient use efficiency. It has been reported that an excessive amount of up to 70% of the nitrogen applied to plants with traditional fertilizers is lost to the surrounding. Hence, the drastic pollution effects of chemical fertilizer usage. Slow-release fertilizers aim to reduce such losses via slow and sustained release of nutrients to the plant. In this study, we report the successful fabrication and characterization of a novel and biodegradable cellulose acetate (CA) electrospun nanofiber (NF) mat loaded with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium plant nutrients of urea, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HANPs) and MOP respectively to be used as a slow-release fertilizer (SRF). It was envisaged that the unique properties of the electrospun NFs could overcome the shortcomings of traditional slow-release fertilizers (SRFs). The fabrication of the NFs was done with 8.5% w/v CA polymer dissolved in a 6 mL solvent system of acetone to dimethylformamide in a 2:1 volume ratio along with the addition of the aforementioned nutrients at 10% of the polymer weight. Electrospinning parameters were set after parameter optimization. The high-voltage supply was set at 16 kV, the spinneret to collector distance was 13cm and the flow rate was 1.5 ml/h. The solutions were electrospun only when the relative humidity was approximately between 65 to 70%. The HANPs incorporated were synthesized by the wet chemical precipitation method. The successful synthesis of the HANPs was confirmed via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. The successful loading of the nutrients onto the electrospun NF mat was evident from FTIR, Raman and EDX analysis. Furthermore, the scanning electron microscopy images of the nutrient loaded NFs depicted a reduced average diameter with respect to those of the neat NF mat. The total nitrogen percentage of the nutrient loaded NF mat was determined to be 2.60% from Kjeldahl analysis. The initial nutrient release studies in water depicted a biphasic release model for orthophosphate and potassium nutrients while only a burst release profile was observed for nitrogen. It can be concluded that the electrospun NF mats display a potential application with regards to SRFs. However, several modifications to the NF mat fabrication such as the usage of coaxial electrospinning will have to be made in order to better optimize the nutrient loading and enhance its slow-release properties.
 Keywords: Electrospinning, Nanofiber mat, Slow-release, Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles
 
 

Effect of Biofertilizers and Nutrients on Mustard (Brassica juncea): A Review

This review explores the impact of biofertilizers and nutrients on mustard (Brassica juncea) cultivation. Mustard, a vital oilseed crop in India, faces challenges such as low productivity and environmental concerns due to excessive chemical fertilizer usage. The paper emphasizes the significance of integrated nutrient management, combining chemical and organic sources, including biofertilizers. The study evaluates the effects on various growth parameters, yield attributes, economic aspects, soil nutrients, and microbial properties. Biofertilizers applications, particularly Azotobacter, PSB and SSB, show promising results in enhancing growth metrics, yield, and nutrient uptake. The judicious combination of chemical fertilizers and biofertilizers demonstrates the potential for improving mustard crop productivity while maintaining environmental sustainability.

Mitigating the Trade-Off between Growth and Stress Resistance in Plants by Fungal Volatile Compounds.

Plants grow in association with diverse microorganisms. During communication between plants and microbes, beneficial and phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi emit various volatile compounds (VCs). These microbial VCs (mVCs) are typically small, odorous compounds with low boiling point, high vapor pressure, and a lipophilic moiety (Schulz and Dickschat, 2007). Based on recent studies, mVCs appear to regulate plant nutrient acquisition, photosynthesis, phytohormone actions, and metabolic processes, leading to an improvement in plant performance (Fincheira et al., 2021). Since mVCs can activate plant defenses, and/or promote plant growth and development at low concentrations, their application in agriculture is attractive to efficiently grow crops and improve plant health in the absence of excess usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. To this end, mVCs have been used for integrated pest management (IPM) to enhance both crop defense and production in field conditions (Brilli et al., 2019). Understanding the molecular action of mVCs in plants will pave the way toward improved crop protection and ecosystem management.

Exploring disparities in employment location and structure: The influence of off-farm employment on reducing chemical fertilizer usage

There has been a discrepancy in opinions regarding the correlation between off-farm employment and the decrease in the usage of chemical fertilizers. This study considers the locational and structural attributes of non-agricultural employment within the labor force and employs the IV-Probit model to examine the causal factors behind farmers' decrease in usage of chemical fertilizers, using survey data from Sichuan Province. The findings suggest that: (1) Farmers in the plain area (Qionglai) tend to have an equal proportion of local and non-local employment; while farmers in the hilly area (Luxian) tend to have more local employment; farmers in the mountainous area (Nanjiang) tend to have more non-local employment. (2) Local employment has a negative significant effect on the decrease in usage of chemical fertilizers, while non-local employment has a positive significant effect on the decrease in usage of chemical fertilizers. (3) Economic differentiation and ecological cognition play a part in mediating effects on farmers' decrease in usage of chemical fertilizers behavior. (4) Further analysis shows that the negative effect of local employment on the decrease in usage of chemical fertilizers is stronger for women than for men, and the positive effect of non-local employment on the decrease in usage of chemical fertilizers is stronger for women than for men. In addition, the new generation of local employment had a significant negative effect on the decrease in the usage of chemical fertilizers. The new generation of non-local employment has a significant positive effect on the decrease in the usage of chemical fertilizers.

Effects of co-inoculation of indole-3-acetic acid- and ammonia-producing bacteria on plant growth and nutrition, soil elements, and the relationships of soil microbiomes with soil physicochemical parameters

Abstract To cope with the problem of the reduction in agricultural productivity, the massive usage of chemical fertilizers for boosting agricultural productivity is popular across the world. In return, it thereby declines soil quality and biodiversity. We therefore determined the potential of co-inoculation of the indole-3-acetic-acid- and ammonia-producing bacteria, Pseudomonas sp. strain NK2/7 and Bacillus sp. strain NK1/19, immobilized in agar to promote mustard greens growth and investigated the effects of co-inoculation of both strains on plant and soil elements as well as soil bacterial community structure, in comparison with a chemical fertilizer and single-strain inoculations. The knowledge on the relationships of both species with plant and soil microbiota in field conditions is limited. The results show that the co-inoculation of both strains immobilized in agar increased plant dry weight up to 62.02% and plant elements, including N (38.46%), P (28.37%), K (203.16%), Ca (10.89%), Mg (25.8%), and Na (70.3%). The co-inoculation also conferred the highest organic matter (OM) (by 429.45%) and increased soil elements including Fe (92.74%), Mn (126.88%), Cu (12.05%), and Zn (107.46%). Illumina next-generation sequencing demonstrated that the establishment of both strains affected the soil bacterial community by reducing bacterial diversity and richness. Bacterial classes Bacteroidia, alpha-Proteobacteria, Vicinamibacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Verrucomicrobiae, Polyangia, Nitrososphaeria, and Blastocatellia were significantly decreased, whereas the amounts of gamma-Proteobacteria and Bacilli were significantly increased. Soil parameters, including pH, OM, total Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn, were the major factors influencing the soil bacterial community structure.

Agronomic assessment of rice genotypes (Oryza sativa) under different levels of fertilizer application: A review

The current rice production system, centered around the high-input green revolution methods, tends to favour affluent farmers, leaving lower-income farmers unable to fully embrace modern agricultural techniques due to soaring input prices. In India, shrinking cultivable land and a growing population have led to intensified agronomic practices like heavy chemical fertilizer usage mainly impacting soil health and crops productivity especially rice. This trend has discouraged poorer farmers from rice cultivation due to diminishing factor productivity and profitability amidst rising input expenses, posing significant concerns about sustainability and economic viability. In this context, the review aims to assess how rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes perform when exposed to varying levels of fertilizer application, providing valuable insights into their adaptability and potential for increased productivity and soil fertility. It was investigated how different fertilizer levels, specifically nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, affects important agronomic practices, yield-related parameters, and grain quality in various rice genotypes. A diverse set of genotypes represent a broad spectrum of genetic background and adaptation strategies, including those known for their efficiency in using nutrients. Highlighting how the robustness of certain genotypes under conditions with limited nutrients maintained satisfactory yields and grain quality. In contrast, some genotypes demonstrated superior performance under higher fertility conditions, resulting in significant yield increases, larger grain sizes, and improved nutritional profiles. These approaches optimize fertilizer application, reduce the environmental impacts associated with excessive nutrient use, and ultimately enhance overall rice production.

Isolation and Inoculation Effect of Trichoderma reesei on Growth and Yield of Barley

In today’s world, usage of chemical fertilizers has become necessity for betterment of crop yield; however they have negative impact on the environment, quality of soil and human health. Therefore, involvement of substitute for chemical fertilizers is an essential requirement of present time. Plant growth promoting fungi (PGPF) serves as a best alternative in place of chemicals to enhance plant growth, crop productivity and improve nutrients availability for plants. They also show an involvement in ceasing growth of plant pathogens, hence acting as a bio control agent. The aim of our study is to screen and examine plant growth promoting fungi effect on barley crop. A total seven fungal strains were isolated from wheat rhizosphere. The isolated fungal strains were screened for their In vitro plant growth promotional traits. Among total, one isolate 14F found positive for five different plant growth promoting traits. This isolate was further identified at molecular level by amplification and sequencing of ITS gene region and was identified as Trichoderma reesei. Trichoderma reesei was inoculated with barley seeds and its effects were analyzed. Significant increase was observed in terms of plant height (root length and shoot length), plant weight (Dry and wet weight) as compared to un-inoculated plants. This Trichoderma strain could become a fantastic bio-fertilizer for sustainable agriculture.

Risk Analysis of Rice Farming at Volcano Semeru Area, Pronojiwo District, Lumajang Regency, Indonesia

This study aimed to analyze the production and financial risks of paddy rice farming in Pronojiwo district, Lumajang Regency, East Java, Indonesia. The research was conducted in March to May 2021, after the case of Semeru eruption in December 2020. The villages sample were Oro-Oro Ombo and Supiturang, the two most affected by the Mount Semeru lava flow. Primary data were obtained from the amount of 95 respondents chosen randomly. The risk of production and financial were analyzed by Coefficient of Variation (CV). Meanwhile, the factors affecting farm risk is analyzed by using regression method. The result of production risk on paddy rice farming in Pronojiwo, Lumajang Regency shows a low risk, namely indicated by CV of 35.38 %. However, the farm income risk is much higher, indicated by CV of 79.08 %. The factors affecting production risk is usage of chemical fertilizer. The increased number of chemical fertilizer will increase production risk of rice farming.

Aquaponics Revolution: Reinforcing performance by means of Apache Spark and Apache Kafka

Many studies provide ways to monitor and manage the aquaponics system, a closed-loop ecosystem that combines hydroponics—growing plants without soil—and aquaculture—raising fish—using cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and smart sensing technologies. A system operating at peak efficiency yields organic, healthful food with little water and no chemical fertilizer usage, therefore contributing to food security and sustainability. In order to develop our proposed aquaponic system based on Internet of Things technologies, this paper will centralize our endeavor to integrate big data tools, namely Apache Spark and Kafka, into the previous architecture for data collection and processing, as well as for the prediction of any anomalies in the system.

Agricultural Training and Livelihood Outcomes: Opinion of Farmers in Mezam Division in the North West Region of Cameroon

The objective of this study is to analyse the effect of agricultural training on livelihood outcomes of farmers in Mezam Division in the North West region of Cameroon. The data was elicited via a structured questionnaire administered on a sample of 381 farmers. Using cluster sampling approach, proximity villages were grouped into three clusters of Bamenda I, Bamenda II and Bamenda III, representing the 3 sub divisions in Mezam division in the North West region of Cameroon. Stratified random sampling was then used to select farmers to participate in the study. Data was analysed using ordinary least square and control function regression estimation techniques with altercation. The result revealed that agricultural training has a negative effect on the livelihood of farmers, due to factors such as lack of adoption of new farming method, inadequate training programs, and seminars, unsustainable practices such as usage of insecticides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Based on the findings, it is recommended to carry out a detailed study to find out why this negative relationship between agricultural training and livelihood outcomes exist. Qualitative approaches such as focus group discussion and in-depth interviews will provide the expected insights.

Organic inputs with reduced chemical fertilizers improve yield, antioxidant components, and defense mechanisms in Tomato (var. Pusa Sheetal)

Chemical fertilizers are widely used to meet the nutritional needs of crops and increase yields; but, due to their high cost and abuse, certain adverse effects are causing the soil to deteriorate. A decline in soil organic carbon is being addressed through the use of vermicompost and farmyard manure as organic amendments, potentially reducing chemical fertilizer usage and ensuring sustainable crop nutrient supply. A study utilizing cattle farmyard manure and vermicompost, along with reduced chemical fertilizers, demonstrated that organic inputs significantly enhance tomato growth, physiology, yield, nutritional, and defense attributes. The study found that using farmyard manure and vermicompost in combination with reduced chemical fertilizers significantly increased plant height (14.2%), number of branches (26.7%), number of leaves (18.1%), fruit weight (30.7%), yield (89.4%), ascorbate peroxidase (15.4%), carotenoids (11.6%), vitamin C (15.4%), lycopene (17.2%), superoxide dismutase (18.5%), total antioxidant activity (55.4%), total soluble solids (9.9%), and vitamin C 7.9% in tomatoes, potentially reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. In addition, soil pH was slightly neutralized and soil organic carbon and available N, P, and K status of soils significantly improved. Tomatoes with higher levels of ascorbate peroxidase, carotenoids, lycopene, superoxide dismutase activity, total antioxidant activity, total soluble solids, and vitamin C, showed higher yields.

Fertilization with different manure sources and doses provides quantitative-qualitative gains in the production of Thymus vulgaris L.

The growth and chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) depend on several factors in particular the supply of fertilization. The use of fertilization with different manure sources and doses in a sustainable production system are critical factors in integrated nutrient management and play an important role in increasing of quantity and quality of medicinal plant. Furthermore, organic manures play an important role in the growth of plants leading to organic and cleaner production. Hence, a field experiment was conducted to study the usage of different organic manures and chemical fertilizers on biomass production, accumulation of nutrients in the leaves, essential oil content, essential oil yield and chemical compositions of Thymus vulgaris. In addition to these objectives, providing an economical and low-cost alternative with the use of organic fertilizers. The treatments consisted of: three sources of organic manure (quail, cattle, and goat) at four doses, chemical fertilizer and the control (without fertilizer). Significant differences were observed between manure sources and doses in virtually all response variables. The results showed that the highest biomass and leaf nutrients of T. vulgaris was obtained in plants treated with quail and cattle manure. Higher production of reactive oxygen species was observed in plants fertilized with goat manure, which generally showed the lowest levels of leaf nutrients. The results showed that the highest essential oil yield of T. vulgaris was obtained in plants treated with cattle manure compared to the control treatment. Thymol was major chemical compound of thyme tended to increase with increasing doses of the three sources of organic manures. The present study indicated that the usage of the right dose and source organic manure are crucial to provide quantitative-qualitative gains in the cultivation of T. vulgaris.