Enhancing Growth, Yield, and Marketable Tuber Quality of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. BARI Alu-88) through Supplementary Vermicompost Application under Coastal Conditions of Bangladesh
Jul 2026· Asian Journal of Research in Crop Science· 0 citations
Abstract
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important food and cash crop in Bangladesh; however, production in coastal regions is constrained by poor soil fertility and salinity stress. Vermicompost has emerged as a sustainable soil amendment capable of improving soil health and crop productivity. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different rates of supplementary vermicompost under a recommended inorganic fertilizer regime on the growth and yield of the potato cultivar BARI Alu-88 under coastal conditions. The experiment was carried out during the 2021–2022 growing season at the field of Noakhali Science and Technology University using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments: T₀ = control (recommended inorganic fertilizer only), T₁ = recommended inorganic fertilizer + vermicompost @ 3.5 t ha⁻¹, T₂ = recommended inorganic fertilizer + vermicompost @ 5.5 t ha⁻¹, and T₃ = recommended inorganic fertilizer + vermicompost @ 7.5 t ha⁻¹, with three replications each. Supplementary vermicompost application significantly (P ≤ .01) improved all growth and yield attributes compared with the recommended inorganic fertilizer alone. The highest vermicompost rate (T₃) produced the tallest plants (56.73 cm), the greatest numbers of leaves (495.03 hill⁻¹), stems (7.60 hill⁻¹), and tubers (21.55 plant⁻¹), and the highest gross tuber yield (40.44 t ha⁻¹) and marketable yield (36.79 t ha⁻¹). Moreover, T₃ reduced the proportion of small-sized tubers (19.32%) while increasing the proportion of large-sized tubers (50.05%). The findings indicate that supplementary vermicompost application under the recommended inorganic fertilizer regime markedly enhanced vegetative growth, tuber development, and yield performance of BARI Alu-88 under coastal conditions. Although vermicompost is recognized as an environmentally friendly soil amendment, its adoption in the coastal saline areas of Bangladesh remains limited. The findings of the present study indicate that applying vermicompost at 7.5 t ha⁻¹ significantly improves the growth and yield of BARI Alu-88 under saline conditions. Therefore, supplementing the recommended inorganic fertilizer with vermicompost at 7.5 t ha⁻¹ can be recommended as an environmentally sustainable nutrient-management strategy for improving potato productivity in the coastal regions of Bangladesh.
Wheat productivity is constrained by declining soil fertility and low nutrient-use efficiency resulting from the continuous dependence on chemical fertilizers. Integrated Nutrient Management, through the judicious integration of organic, inorganic, and biological nutrient sources, offers a sustainable approach to enhance crop growth, yield, soil health, and long-term productivity; however, its effectiveness in combination with nano-fertilizers requires further evaluation. Therefore, a field experiment was planned during the Rabi season of 2024-25 and 2025-26, at the research farm of Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana. The experiment was laid out in a two-factorial randomized block design with three replications. Factor A comprised two wheat varieties (WH 1270 and DBW 222), while Factor B consisted of eight nutrient management treatments involving RDF, vermicompost (2 t/ha), foliar nano urea (1250 mL/ha), foliar nano DAP (1250 mL/ha), and Azotobacter applied alone or in combination. The pooled data revealed that the variety DBW 222 showed significantly higher plant height (94.34 cm), number of tillers/meter row length (65.77), DMA/meter row length (224.82 g), LAI (5.56), spike length (9.84 cm), grains/spikes (48.31), effective tillers/m2 (300.80), test weight (40.27 g), grain yield (5042 kg/ha) and straw yield (6651 kg/ha) over variety WH 1270. Among various nutrient combinations, maximum plant height (104.65 cm), number of tillers/meter row length (70.51), DMA/meter row length (251.73 g), LAI (6.18), spike length (10.88 cm), grains/spikes (51.37), effective tillers/m2 (322.57), test weight (42.21 g), grain yield (5642 kg/ha) and straw yield (7439 kg/ha) was recorded with treatment T3 (100% RDF with vermicompost @ 2t/ha) which was found at par with T5 and T4. These treatments were found superior over T2, T6, T8 and T7. The least were found in T1
Sanjeev Kumar, I.S. Singh· Research on Crops· 0 citations
Low soil fertility and restricted nutrient bioavailability are critical limiting factors for sustainable vegetable production, particularly in marginal sandy soils. This study addressed these challenges by investigating the efficacy of a novel sugarcane-derived molasses treated (SOFA) as a soil conditioner and nutrient source for eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), a crop for which comprehensive studies on such integrated approaches in these soil types are limited. Field experiments were conducted over two consecutive growing seasons to evaluate the impact of SOFA, applied either independently or in combination with mineral nitrogen (N), on soil physicochemical properties and crop performance.The study results demonstrated that integrated fertilization significantly improved soil physicochemical properties and crop performance. The treatment T3 (50% mineral N + 50% SOFA) achieved the highest total fruit yield (8.84 kg plant−1), representing a 111% increase compared to the control (4.18 kg plant−1). Similarly, T2 (75% N + 25% SOFA) significantly enhanced vegetative growth, chlorophyll content, and fruit nutritional quality. Soil organic matter increased by up to 56%, while available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium increased by up to 240%, 209%, and 67%, respectively, compared to the control. Moreover, SOFA application contributed to moderating soil alkalinity and improving nutrient availability, despite slight increases in electrical conductivity at higher application rates. Eggplant fruit quality traits were also significantly improved, with total soluble solids (TSS) increasing by 42% and anthocyanin content by 49% under optimized treatments. Economic analysis revealed that T2 and T3 achieved the highest profitability, with investment factors approaching 5.0, indicating superior economic efficiency. These findings highlight the potential of treated molasses-based amendments (SOFA) as a sustainable strategy for restoring marginal sandy soils and optimizing the productivity and nutritional quality of S. melongena.
Abdel-Haleem A. H. El-Shaieny, Ahmed N. Gad El Rab, H. Farrag et al.· Scientific Reports· 0 citations
The sustainable management of soil fertility is essential for improving common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity under the semi-arid conditions of Afghanistan. This study evaluated the comparative effects of two organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizer (NPK), and their integrated application on the growth and yield performance of common bean during the 2025 growing season at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kabul University. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six fertilizer treatments and three replications. Growth traits, yield components, grain yield, biological yield, and harvest index were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and treatment means were separated by Tukey’s HSD test at the 5% probability level. Fertilizer treatments significantly influenced most growth and yield parameters. The integrated application of 50% OF-1 + 50% NPK (T5) consistently produced superior plant growth, increased yield components, and achieved the highest grain yield, biological yield, and harvest index compared with the sole application of organic or inorganic fertilizers and the unfertilized control. The improved performance of the integrated treatment was attributed to enhanced nutrient availability and more efficient nutrient utilization throughout the crop growth period. These findings demonstrate that integrated nutrient management is a sustainable and effective strategy for increasing common bean productivity under semi-arid agroecological conditions. Future studies should evaluate long-term effects of integrated nutrient management under diverse agroecological conditions.
A. Sarwari, Mohammad Daud Haidari, Ph.D.· International Journal of Cur...· 0 citations
Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) are widely promoted in sub-Saharan Africa to improve vitamin A intake. However, production is constrained by poor soil fertility and tillage practices in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This research determined the combined effects of three tillage practices (mound, ridge and flat-bed) and four fertilizer treatments (NPK 20: 10:10 at 200 kg/ ha; poultry manure at 5 t/ha, urea at 200 kg/ha and unfertilized control) on growth, yield and pest incidence of OFSP cultivar Mother’s Delight during the 2024 and 2025 cropping seasons at University of Abuja Teaching and Research Farm on factorial combination of 3 x 4 in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Tillage combined with NPK fertiliser application increased vine length (233.7 cm), leaf number (174.1), and fresh biomass yield (9.4 kg/plot) by 76%, 86%, and 62%, respectively, over the control. Root yield was highest in mound tillage (29.4 t/ha), while the maximum storage root yield of 38.5 t/ha was obtained from the mound–NPK interaction, representing a 92% improvement over the flat-bed control treatment. Application of poultry manure shifted soil pH (4.6–6.7) and increased cation exchange capacity (CEC) to 3.78 cmol/kg, indicating improved soil fertility. However, the incidence of Cylas weevil infection was increased by 84% with the use of NPK fertilizer. Fresh biomass had a positive correlation with marketable roots (r = 0.971, r = 0.900, respectively). Mound tillage coupled with the application of NPK fertilizer would increase OFSP yield significantly.
Nicholas E. Ilozobhie, D. O. Aihebhoria, Franklin Adekunle Awojemila et al.· FUDMA Journal of Sciences· 0 citations
A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2025–2026 at the Horticulture Research Farm, AKS University, Satna, Madhya Pradesh, to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) on the growth, yield, quality attributes and economic performance of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Kufri Chipsona. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with eleven treatment combinations, replicated three times. The treatments comprised T₀ (absolute control), T₁ (100% RDF), T₂ (FYM @ 5 t ha⁻¹), T₃ (Vermicompost @ 4.5 t ha⁻¹), T₄ (Poultry manure @ 3 t ha⁻¹), T₅ (75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha⁻¹), T₆ (75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha⁻¹), T₇ (75% RDF + Poultry manure @ 10 t ha⁻¹), T₈ (50% RDF + FYM @ 15 t ha⁻¹ + Vermicompost @ 10 t ha⁻¹), T₉ (50% RDF + FYM @ 15 t ha⁻¹ + Poultry manure @ 10 t ha⁻¹), and T₁₀ (25% RDF + FYM @ 10 t ha⁻¹ + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha⁻¹ + Poultry manure @ 10 t ha⁻¹). The results indicated that integrated nutrient management improved the growth attributes, tuber yield, quality parameters and economic returns of potato cultivation compared with the control and sole nutrient-source treatments. Among the treatments, T₁₀ recorded the highest values for plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of shoots per plant, dry weight of haulms, number of tubers per plant, individual tuber weight, tuber yield per hectare, tuber girth, dry matter content, starch content, total soluble solids, gross income, net income and benefit–cost ratio. The findings suggest that the combined use of organic manures with a reduced level of inorganic fertiliser may be a useful nutrient management option for improving the productivity, quality and profitability of potato cv. Kufri Chipsona under the agro-climatic conditions of Satna, Madhya Pradesh.
Poluru Naveen, Anupam Singh, Ankit Raj et al.· Archives of Current Research...· 0 citations
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a vital oilseed and protein crop in sub-Saharan Africa. As a legume, groundnut can fix atmospheric nitrogen into its root nodules. However, fertilizer application is still necessary when other essential nutrients needed for improving the quality and productivity of the seeds are limited in the soil. This study therefore investigated the effects of organic (Super GRO at 200 ml/ha) and inorganic fertilizers (NPK 15:15:15 at 200 kg/ha, single superphosphate (SSP) at 60 kg/ha) on the growth, yield, and seed quality of four groundnut varieties (SAMNUT 23, SAMNUT 24, SAMNUT 25, and SAMNUT 28). Data collected were subjected to two-way analysis of variance to test significant differences among the varieties and fertilizer treatments at p<0.05. The inorganic fertilizers (NPK and SSP) had a marked influence on both pod and seed yield when compared to the organic fertiliser (Super GRO), where the latter promoted higher vegetative growth. Varietal differences indicated that pod and seed yield were significantly highest in SAMNUT 24 and lowest in SAMNUT 23. Regardless of variety and fertiliser, the percentage moisture, ash, fibre, protein, fat, and carbohydrate ranged from 9.60-9.91%, 1.22-1.19%, 2.20-2.10%, 18.63-19.47%, 39.67-40.58%, and 27.20-28.38%, respectively. SAMNUT 24 had the highest protein content in its seeds, while SAMNUTS 28 and 23 had the highest fat and energy values when they were compared to other varieties. The organic Super Gro promoted higher carbohydrate accumulation with limited protein, fat, and fibre and energy values when compared to inorganic fertilisers. The foregoing results indicated that SAMNUT 24 and SAMNUT 25 responded positively to fertiliser application, most importantly, the inorganic fertilisers. The cultivation of these varieties under inorganic fertilisers should be encouraged where there is low soil fertility.
U. Olayinka, Goodluck O. Ogundare, M. Babatunde et al.· Science Journal of Universit...· 0 citations
