Use Of Inorganic Fertilizers Research Articles

Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Soil Properties of Lowland Rice on Vertisols of Fogera District, Northwestern Ethiopia

Declining land productivity due to low soil fertility status as a result of continuous cultivation, inadequate use of organic and inorganic fertilizers is a major cause for decline crop productivity. Hence, a field experiment was conducted at Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center (FNRRTC) during the 2021 cropping season to determine the effects of integrated use of farmyard manure (FYM) and nitrogen fertilizer on soil properties and yield of lowland rice on the vertisols of Fogera district. The treatments were factorial combination of three levels of FYM (0, 5, and 7.5 t ha<sup>-1</sup>) and four levels of Nitrogen (0, 46, 92, and 184 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>). The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Representative soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-20 cm before treatment application and after crop harvest, and analyzed following the standard laboratory procedures. All collected soil data were analyzed by using SAS software (version 9.4). After crop harvest the results showed that soil pH, OC, TN, CEC, Exc. K, Ca, Mg and Av.P were significantly (p<0.01) affected by the main effects of FYM. The combined applications of FYM and N fertilizer also significantly (p<0.01) affected CEC, OC and Exc.Mg. The highest soil CEC, OC and Exc.Mg were recorded from the combine effects of 7.5 t/kg with 92 kg/ha. From the results of this experiment, it could be concluded that combined application of FYM and inorganic N fertilizers improved the chemical and physical properties, which may lead to enhanced and sustainable production of rice in the study area.

Effects of Farmyard Manure and Nitrogen Fertilizers on Yield and Yield Components of Low Land Rice (Oryza sativa L.) on Vertisols of Fogera District, Northwestern Ethiopia

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a major cereal crop in Fogera district; however, the current yield is decreased due to low soil fertility status as a result of continuous cultivation, inadequate use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Hence, a field experiment was conducted at Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center (FNRRTC) during the 2021 cropping season to determine the effects of farmyard manure and nitrogen fertilizer on yield and yield components of lowland rice on vertisols of Fogera district. The treatments were laid out as factorial combination of three levels of FYM (0, 5, and 7.5 t ha-1) and four levels of Nitrogen (0, 46, 92, and 184 kg ha-1). The experiment was arranged at (RCBD) with three replications. The phenological, yield and yield components of rice data were collected during the growth period. All collected phenological, yield and yield components of rice data were analyzed by using SAS software (version 9.4). Analysis of the results revealed that application of FYM at 7.5 t ha-1 combined with 92 kg N ha-1 increased grain yield by 218.25% compared to the negative controls. The highest rice grain yield (7533.1 kg ha-1), biomass yield (14553.1kg ha-1), number of grains per panicle (153.27) and harvest index (51.89%) were obtained from the application of 7.5 t ha-1 FYM with 92 kg ha-1 N. Therefore, combined applications of 7.5 t ha-1 FYM with 92 kg ha-1 N is the recommended treatment that economically feasible for rice production and soil fertility improvements on the Vertisols of the study area, which provided the net benefit of (166,838.02ETB ha-1) with an acceptable MRR of 3122.99%.

Optimizing Growth and Yield of Cluster Bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) Var. Neelam-61 through Integrated Use of Inorganic Fertilizers, Organic Manure and Rhizobium Inoculation

Organic matter decomposition is beneficial to plant growth and development. However, the overuse of chemical fertilizers poses risks to environmental sustainability and long-term soil health. The integration of organic fertilizers, such as poultry manure, offers a promising solution to reduce dependency on chemical inputs while maintaining crop productivity. The field experiment was conducted at Research Farm of the Department of Soil Science, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj U.P during Kharif season of 2023. An experiment was conducted in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with three levels of N:P:K, Poultry manure and two levels of Rhizobium inoculation. The seeds were treated with Rhizobium. Based on the experimental data, the application of 100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF), 100% Poultry manure and 100% Rhizobium inoculation not only resulted in maximum growth and yield attributes but also proved to be significantly superior to all other treatments.

Assessing the efficacy of natural soil biotin on soil quality, microbial diversity, and Rhododendron simsii growth for sustainable landscape architecture.

Fertilization significantly influences soil quality and its sustainable use in urban garden maintenance. The widespread application of inorganic fertilizers has raised ecological concerns due to their potential environmental impacts. Organic fertilizers, while beneficial, often have slow effects and are costly. Biofertilizers, with their eco-friendly nature and low carbon footprint, are gaining attention for their multifaceted role in supporting plant growth. Despite the focus on fruit trees, vegetables, and medicinal plants, ornamental plants have been understudied. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a novel microbial fertilizer, 'natural soil biotin', on Rhododendron plants, specifically the Azalea hybrid 'Carnation'. The study employed a comparative approach to assess the impact of different fertilization strategies on soil properties, microbial diversity, enzyme activity, plant morphology, and physiological parameters. The application of 'natural soil biotin' was compared with the use of inorganic and organic fertilizers. The combined application of 'natural soil biotin' was found to effectively enhance soil properties and mitigate the impact of other fertilizers on soil pH. It also improved the relative abundance of beneficial microbial groups such as Proteobacteria, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota. Furthermore, the mixed application significantly increased the activities of urease and sucrase in Rhododendron plants, which promoted their growth, development, and stress resistance. The results indicate that the mixed application of 'natural soil biotin' with inorganic and organic fertilizers not only improved the soil quality but also enhanced the efficiency of fertilizer utilization. This approach led to increased economic and environmental benefits in Rhododendron cultivation. The findings contribute to the foundation for soil improvement and ecological restoration, suggesting that 'natural soil biotin' could be a promising alternative or supplement to traditional fertilization methods in sustainable landscape architecture.

Life cycle assessment of oil palm plantation in Riau province: evaluating environmental impacts

Abstract Indonesia possesses palm oil as one of its strategic commodities, and it plays a crucial role in its economic growth. Over the years, the expansion of land and the production of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) of palm oil has consistently increased, accompanied by a rise in land area and crude palm oil (CPO) production. The pivotal role of Indonesia as the world’s largest palm oil producer must be highlighted through sustainability studies, especially in environmental aspects. Life cycle assessment is a technique utilized to evaluate the environmental implications of products, processes, and services, spanning their complete life cycle from the extraction of raw materials to waste management. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) encompasses various environmental impact categories, providing a comprehensive understanding of the ecological contribution of a product or service. This research assesses the environmental impact of oil palm plantation activities in Riau province, Indonesia. The research’s boundary is set to a cradle-to-gate analysis within the oil palm plantation subsystem. The Life Cycle Assessment was conducted utilizing the SimaPro 9.5.0.0 software employing the ReCiPe 2016 method. The total emissions generated during the production process of 5 tons of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) amount to 1634.22 kg CO2 eq/5 tons of FFB. The major contributors to emissions are the production and use of inorganic fertilizers. Specifically, the types of fertilizers responsible for the high greenhouse gas emissions are KCl, followed by phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers. Besides the potential for global warming, human carcinogenic toxicity is another potential impact, primarily from fertilization. The findings in this study can serve as scientific evidence in formulating solutions for sustainable oil palm plantations, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. An environmentally conscious approach to lowering emissions requires meticulous scrutiny and implementation of precision farming. It chiefly involves keeping a close watch on the quantity of fertilizer used in plantation settings and promoting using fertilizers with lower carbon footprints.

Effect of continuous use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil physico-chemical properties in a rice-rice cropping system on Inceptisols

Effect of continuous use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil physico-chemical properties in a rice-rice cropping system on Inceptisols

The potential of ecoenzymes on vegetative and generative growth in curly chili plants (Capsicum annuum)

Background: Red hot chili (Capsicum annum) is one of the important commodities for the community. The use of inorganic fertilizers in chili cultivation in the long run can disturb the soil balance. Therefore, it is necessary to make efforts to maintain and improve soil aggregation, so that soil particles more easily bind organic matter. One important effort is to apply organic fertilizer to the soil. One alternative liquid organic fertilizer that can be used is Ecoenzyme (EE). EE is the result of fermentation of organic kitchen waste such as leftover fruit and vegetable peels, molasses and water. This study was conducted to obtain the optimal concentration of EE on the growth and chlorophyll levels in Capsicum annum plants. Methods: There were 6 treatments in this study, namely E0 (no treatment as negative control), E1 (goat manure with soil: husk: fertilizer ratio of 1:2:1 as positive control), and different concentrations of EE, namely, E2 (EE 1ml/1 liter of water), E3 (EE 5ml/1 liter of water), E4 (EE 10ml/1 liter of water) and E5 (EE 15ml/1 liter of water). Findings: The results of significance data analysis with Duncan at the 5% level showed that treatment E1 was significantly different from the other treatments and treatment E4 showed different results but not significant with other EE treatments based on vegetative and generative growth parameters. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study is that the optimal concentration of EE to increase growth and chlorophyll levels in curly chili plants at a dose of EE 10ml/1 liter of water. Novelty/Originality of this Study: The novelty of this investigation lies in its examination of the effects of ecoenzyme, an organic liquid fertilizer derived from fermented kitchen waste, on the growth and chlorophyll content of curly chili (Capsicum annuum) plants. This research is unique as it applies ecoenzyme to a horticultural crop that has not been extensively studied in this context, offering insights into sustainable agriculture practices and nutrient recycling.

Integrated Nutrient Management and Intercropping in Increasing the Productivity of Curly Chili (Capsicum Annum L)

Curly chili (Capsicum annum L.) is one horticultural commodity with good development prospects. The productivity of chili plants in Indonesia is quite low. The cause is low land productivity due to intensive planting and excessive use of inorganic fertilizers. One way to overcome this problem is by combining inorganic and organic fertilizers. This research aims to obtain the proportions of various nutrient sources and types of intercropping that can increase the production of curly red chili plants. This research was conducted in June – December 2021 in Wonorejo Village, Poncokusumo District, Malang Regency. This research used a Randomized Block Design (RBD). (P0) chili monoculture (P1) chili + pakchoy (P2) chili + cabbage (F0) 100% inorganic (F1) 75% N + 20 t goat manure + PGPR 10 ml 1-1 (F2) 75% N + 20 t goat manure + PGPR 20 ml 1-1 (F3) 50% N + 30 t goat manure + PGPR 20 ml 1-1. The results showed that the P1F2 treatment: chili + pakcoy, 75% N + 20 t goat manure + PGPR 20 ml 1 showed high growth results, namely plant height, number of leaves and stem diameter, and the highest yield component per hectare, namely 8.6 tons/ha.

Pengaruh Kombinasi Pupuk Kandang Sapi dan Pupuk NPK terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Tanaman Kubis (Brassica oleraceae L.)

The use of organic and inorganic fertilizers is an alternative way to get good cabbage production, one of which is by using cow manure and NPK. This study aims to determine the good use of a combination of cow manure and NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield of cabbage (Brassica oleraceae L.). The research was carried out from October 2022 to January 2023. This study used a Randomized Block Design (RAK), namely with a combination of cow manure (PKS) and NPK fertilizer. With the following details: P0 = Control, P1 = PKS 200 g + NPK 5 g, P2 = PKS 400 g + NPK 10 g, P3 = PKS 600 g + NPK 15 g, P4 = PKS 800 g + NPK 20 g. The treatments were repeated 3 times so that there were 15 experimental units. Each experimental unit used 5 polybags and each polybag was planted with one plant so that the total cabbage plants used were 75 plants. The variables observed were leaf area, time of crop formation, crop weight, and crop volume and root volume. The results showed that the combination of cow manure and NPK fertilizer had a significant effect on the growth of leaf area, crop weight, and crop volume. However, it has not had a significant effect on the time of crop formation. Treatment of cow manure 800 g + NPK 20 g (P4) fertilizer increased crop weight and crop volume. Treatment of cow manure 400 g + NPK 10 g (P2) fertilizer increased cabbage leaf area.

Pengolahan Kopi Menjadi Kompos: Analisis Proses Pembuatan Kompos dan Digital Marketing

In Indonesia, the use of inorganic fertilizers is one area that is produced continuously to be used to increase crop yields, especially vegetables. Organic fertilizer and compost also have long-term benefits because they can increase the fertility of plants such as coffee. Indonesia is a coffee producer with unique characteristics. There is one type of coffee that is not widely known by the Indonesian people, namely Excelsa coffee. Excelsa coffee has very distinctive characteristics and aroma. Most of Wonomerto's residents have agricultural land and livestock that can produce coffee and livestock. However, villages that have cattle farms are still unable to utilize animal waste properly, and also residents who have coffee production only process it into ground coffee. Therefore, educational events and new programs for the Bokashi compost coffee market are being held. Apart from that, agricultural products and animal products that cannot yet be processed can be used as organic fertilizer using EM4 technology. The benefits of bokashi fertilizer are that it can increase the nutrient content of plants, reduce organic waste, and encourage the growth of plant microorganisms.

Determinants of Inorganic Fertilizer Use by Smallholder Rice Farmers in Mbeya and Morogoro Regions of Tanzania

Determinants of Inorganic Fertilizer Use by Smallholder Rice Farmers in Mbeya and Morogoro Regions of Tanzania

A Review of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and Their Characteristics as Potential Biofertilizer

The growing demand for agricultural products for food requirements caused the use of excessive inorganic chemical fertilisers, insecticides, fungicides, and pesticides for a quick and simple way to maximise and boost crop yield. This practice harmed food safety and caused the degradation of environmental, physical, and biological conditions. It has become alarming, and now is the time for a greener approach to increase agricultural output while minimising the use of inorganic chemical fertilisers. It was proven through many previous studies that using environmentally friendly biofertilisers has managed to increase crop yield while reducing the usage of chemical fertilisers. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are mostly used in biofertiliser production because these types of microbes will enhance plant growth and yield by mobilising the available nutrients through several biological mechanisms, including fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, solubilisation, and mobilisation of phosphate and potassium, phytohormones production, disease suppression, and stress protection. Understanding their characteristics, biological mechanisms of action, and the nutritional and physical requirements for growth is important for successfully formulating and applying PGPR as a biofertiliser. The selection of the right PGPR with the desired characteristics, the ability to adapt to the environment, and the ideal formulation of the biofertiliser are the main criteria that should be emphasised when determining the success of biofertiliser. Knowledge and awareness regarding the use, benefits, and production of PGPR as a potential biofertiliser are important and should be explored to fulfil the crop’s nutritional requirements more economically and sustainably.

Varietal Response to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Bulb Yield, Storability, and Production Economics of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

The field experiment was conducted in the Rabi season of 2021-22 in the research farm of the Regional Research Center, Raiya (Jhajjar) of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal, Haryana to examine the impact of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on the growth, bulb yield and self-life of two indigenous onion varieties was examined. The treatment combinations comprised seven treatments along with one control that was arranged in a randomized block design (factorial) with four replications and two varieties namely Hisar Onion-2 and Hisar Onion-4. The results of the study showed that bulb yield-related parameters such as average fresh weight of bulbs (82.39 g), yield per plot (26.74 kg), and yield per hectare (29.71 t) were recorded maximum in the treatment T6. However, the better storage life of bulbs was estimated in treatment control which was at par with treatment T3 i.e., physiological loss in weight (20.23%), sprouting (3.14%), and rotting (11.43%) were observed minimum after 120 days of storage period. Hisar onion-4 was found superior in all the bulb yield and shelf-life parameters in comparison to Hisar Onion-2. Treatment consisting of 50% recommended dose of NPK + 50% RDN supplied through Vermi-compost recorded maximum net return (Rs.1, 97,942) and benefit-cost ratio (2.25). Therefore, it can be inferred that the combined use of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers contributes to the improved shelf life of onion bulbs and enhances the long-term production potential of the soil.

Farmers’ Perception and Practice of Soil Fertility Management and Conservation in the Era of Digital Soil Information Systems in Southwest Nigeria

This study assessed the perception and use of digital applications for soil fertility management and conservation strategies among small-scale crop farmers in southwest Nigeria. A total of 376 farmers were randomly selected across the six southwest states. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The majority of the farmers relied on perception and other non-scientific approaches such as the appearance of weeds and performance of crops in the previous season to assess soil fertility. Only 1.1% and 0.3% of the farmers assessed soil fertility through soil tests and digital applications, respectively. Most farmers adopted bush fallowing and the use of inorganic fertilizers to improve soil fertility. Although 4.8% of the farmers indicated that they had digital applications on their mobile phones, only 2.9% claimed to have used these. More than half (56.4%) of the farmers stated that a lack of awareness of the existence of digital applications and internet-enabled telephones were the reasons they have not been able to use digital applications. The majority of the farmers (97.3%) indicated their willingness to embrace the use of new farm decision digital applications which could provide more information, especially on soil fertility, if introduced. More extensive services focusing on older, less literate farmers and farmers who hitherto did not belong to any farmers’ association are advocated for in order to encourage the use of digital applications and soil fertility management and conservation practices.

RICE STRAW WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY TO IMPLEMENT THE LEISA CONCEPT IN SUBAK SEMBUNG ECOTOURISM AREA, DENPASAR-BALI

Objective: The purpose of writing this article is to evaluate the management of rice straw waste in the Subak Sembung ecotourism area, Denpasar. This includes assessing the implementation of the LEISA concept and prioritizing ecological concepts Theoretical Framework: Subak Sembung as an ecotourism area should manage waste by prioritizing ecological principles, including implementing the LEISA concept. The implementation of LEISA in the Subak ecotourism area is a characteristic of sustainable agriculture Method: The method used in this research is qualitative research which aims to understand phenomena that occur in society. The sample in this study was 30 farmers who were selected using simple random sampling techniques Results and Discussion: Based on the research results, it was found that rice straw waste in the Subak Sembung ecotourism area has not been managed by Bali Governor Regulation Number 47 of 2019 concerning source-based waste management. The LEISA concept has not been implemented optimally, where only 29% of farmers compost and use compost to reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers. The LEISA concept has not been implemented optimally in Subak Sembung because based on the results, 94% of farmers in Subak Sembung do not know about the LEISA concept. Research Implications: Socialization and training in rice straw waste management for Subak Sembung member farmers need to be carried out more regularly and continuously so that the LEISA concept can be implemented. Originality/Value: Implementation of the LEISA concept through agricultural waste management in the Subak area, which is an ecotourism area, can be an effort to realize sustainable agriculture and tourism simultaneously

Combined use of digestate and inorganic fertilizer alleviates the burden of class 1 integrons in perennial ryegrass rhizosphere without compromising aerial biomass production.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the main global health challenges. Anaerobic digestion (AD) can significantly reduce the burden of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in animal manures. However, the reduction is often incomplete. The agronomic use of digestates requires assessments of their effects on soil ARGs. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of digestate on the abundance of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the rhizosphere of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and to determine whether half-dose replacement of digestate with urea (combined fertilizer) can be implemented as a safer approach while maintaining a similar biomass production. A greenhouse assay was conducted during 190days under a completely randomized design with two experimental factors: fertilizer type (unfertilized control and fertilized treatments with equal N dose: digestate, urea and combined fertilizer) and sampling date (16 and 148days after the last application). The results indicated that the digestate significantly increased the abundance of clinical class 1 integrons (intI1 gene) relative to the unfertilized control at both sampling dates (P < 0.05), while the combined fertilizer only increased them at the first sampling. Sixteen days after completing the fertilization scheme only the combined fertilizer and urea significantly increased the biomass production relative to the control (P < 0.05). Additionally, by the end of the assay, the combined fertilizer showed significantly lower levels of the macrolide-resistance gene ermB than digestate and a cumulative biomass similar to urea or digestate. Overall, the combined fertilizer can alleviate the burden of integrons and ermB while simultaneously improving biomass production.

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management in China Aster cv. Arka Poornima Under Mid Hills of Himalayas

The present investigation was conducted to investigate the effect of integrated nutrient management on vegetative parameters of China aster cv. Arka Poornima under the mid hills of Himachal Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in simple randomized design (RBD) with eighteen treatments. The experiment was conducted at the Kakhali research farm of Dr. Khem Singh Gill Akal College of Agriculture, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Himachal Pradesh during kharif season in 2023. For integrated nutrient management eighteen treatments were constituted with three levels of recommend dose of inorganic fertilizers (50, 75 and 100 %) and three biofertilizers viz., Azotobacter, PSB and KSB along with control. The observations for the vegetative parameters plant height (cm) at maturity, numbers of leaves, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, leaf area per plant, leaf area index and plant spread were recorded and analyzed. The plant height (91.40 cm), No. of leaves (356.13), No. of primary branches (12.40) and secondary branches (33.70) were found maximum in treatment T12 (RDF@75% + Azotobacter + PSB + KSB), while the lowest values were observed in T0 (control). The highest leaf area (27.49 cm2) was found in T8 (RDF@75% + Azotobacter), while the leaf area index (12.02) and plant spread (16.57 cm) were found in treatment T11 (RDF@75% + Azotobacter + PSB). The lowest values for leaf area (17.77 cm2), leaf area index (5.48) and plant spread (11.82 cm) were found in treatments T14 (RDF@100% + Azotobacter), T16 (RDF@100% + KSB) and T10 (RDF@75% + KSB), respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that, application of T12 (RDF@75% + Azotobacter + PSB + KSB) is best for the getting higher production in China aster followed by T11 (RDF@75% + Azotobacter + PSB). This study will reduce the use of inorganic fertilizer without polluting the soil and environment.

Compost as an Alternative to Inorganic Fertilizers in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] Production

ABSTRACTSoil fertility management is essential to sustain agricultural production in smallholder farming systems. An experiment was carried out to assess the viability of the combined use of compost and inorganic fertilizers as an alternative to conventional inorganic fertilization under greenhouse conditions. The 10 treatments, arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six replications, consisted of a control, conventional mineral fertilization (150 kg NPK ha−1), composts added to the soil alone (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 t ha−1), and their combination with 50% of recommended rate of inorganic fertilizers (75 kg NPK ha−1). Application of 7.5 t ha−1 of compost and 50% of the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer (75 kg NPK ha−1) gave the significantly highest seed yield, corresponding to a 30% increase over NPK‐fertilized plants. The combined application of 2.5 or 10 t ha−1 compost with 75 kg NPK ha−1 increased plant height by 38% compared with the NPK treatment. Additionally, stem diameter increased by 53% when 5 t ha−1 of compost and 75 kg NPK ha−1 were mixed. As expected, control plants produced the most nodules (108), 85% more than inorganic fertilization. Plants fertilized with 7.5 or 10 t ha−1 of compost and 75 kg NPK ha−1 produced 17% more pods, seeds per pod, and seeds per plant than NPK treatments. However, fertilization treatments had no significant effects on cowpea fresh and dry biomass or SPAD values. The results reveal that combining compost with inorganic fertilizer reduced synthetic fertilization by 50%, while producing growth and yields comparable to, or even higher than, recommended inorganic fertilization. This experiment demonstrated that integrated soil fertility management can be used as an alternative to the use of inorganic fertilizers in cowpea cultivation.

Growth and yield response of maize to integrated nutrient management of chicken manure and inorganic fertilizer in different agroecological zones

The productivity of maize, an essential staple food crop in Africa, is severely constrained by the declining fertility of the soil. The combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers could ameliorate this challenge in a sustainable way to boost maize productivity. Two field trials were conducted at Ashanti -Mampong and Damongo, in the transitional and Guinea Savannah agroecologies of Ghana respectively, to assess the influence of sole and integrated application of chicken manure and NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield of maize. The treatments included two maize varieties; Abontem and Obatanpa, and five fertilizer rates; 3 t/ha chicken manure (CM), NPK (65:38:38 kg ha−1 NPK), ½ CM + ½ NPK and ¾ CM + ¼ NPK and control (no fertilizer). A 2 x 5 factorial randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Significant variations (p < 0.05) were revealed between varieties, fertilizer types and their interaction effects for phenological, growth and yield of maize in both locations. The superiority of the integrated application of NPK and chicken manure was also visible in the vegetative parameters such as plant height, number of leaves and shoot dry weight of the maize plants given them the comparative advantage to assimilate more photosynthates for partitioning to the ears and grains. Obatanpa treated with ½ CM + ½ NPK produced the highest yield of 4661.1 kg ha−1, which was 29.6 and 29.9 % higher than the same variety grown on sole NPK and sole chicken manure, respectively at Damongo. Abontem treated with ¾ CM + ¼ NPK recorded a grain yield of 4479.3 kg ha−1, 11.7 % higher than the sole NPK and 10.3 % higher than the sole CM at Damongo. Similarly, Obatanpa grown on the ½ CM + ½ NPK recorded the highest grain yield of 4349.3 kg ha−1at Mampong followed by Abontem treated with the sole NPK (4267.1 kg ha−1). Sole NPK and the combined application of NPK and chicken manure gave comparable responses for vegetative traits while the integrated application proved superior for grain yield of maize across the two agroecologies.

Response of Arugula to Integrated Use of Biological, Inorganic, and Organic Fertilization.

This study evaluated the effects of solely and integrated application of inorganic (NPK), commercial organic (NC), and biological (MIX, mixed strains Ensifer meliloti and Azotobacter chroococcum) fertilizers on the chemical characteristics of arugula biomass and its yield, as well as changes in soil microbiological parameters after the experiment in relation to the control treatment (Ø). The experiment was performed in semi-controlled greenhouse conditions, in pots, from the 4th decade of March to the 2nd decade of September, in 2023, at three cutting times/swaths, during one agricultural season, with Vertisol soil. For soil characterization, the following parameters were analysed: granulometric composition using sieving and sedimentation procedure; soil acidity-potentiometrically; SOM-soil organic matter by Kotzmann method; total N using CNS analyser; available P-spectrophotometrically; available K-flame photometrically; total number of microorganisms on an agarized soil extract medium; fungi on a solid Czapek agar; actinomycetes on a solid Krasiljnikov agar with saccharose; Azotobacter spp. on a liquid Fyodorov medium with mannitol; ammonifiers on a liquid medium with asparagine; and dehydrogenase activity-spectrophotometrically. For plant characterization, the following parameters were determined: N and C, both on CNS analyser; P on spectrophotometer; K on flame photometer; air-dried yield biomass. A stimulative effect on all microbiological parameters was found in the treatment with integrated use of organic and biological fertilizer, except for fungi, which grew better in the treatments with separate inorganic and organic fertilizers. Generally, the stimulative impact on plant chemical parameters manifested in combined inorganic and biological, organic and biological, and inorganic and organic fertilization treatments, and was inhibited in treatment without fertilization, in all three swaths, which could also be stated for the plant yield. Positive influence of all fertilization treatments on chemical parameters was observed for the second swath in relation to the first and the third. The total yield in the NPK+MIX treatment was 121%, and in the NC+MIX treatment, it was 87% higher compared to the control (Ø). In general, integrated use of inorganic and biological, organic and biological, and inorganic and organic fertilizers, respectively, could be proposed as an optimal fertilization treatment in arugula cultivation.