Assessment of Different Nutrient Sources on Production and Profitability of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Khairahani, Chitwan

Effect of Inorganic Fertilizers and Organic Manures on Growth, Yield and Economics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2024–25 and 2025–26 at the Experimental Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, RIMT University, Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab, India, to evaluate the effects of inorganic fertilisers, organic manures, zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄), and Azotobacter on the growth, yield, and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design (RBD) comprising twelve treatments with three replications. The treatments consisted of different combinations of the recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF), farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, poultry manure, ZnSO₄, and Azotobacter. The results revealed that integrated nutrient management significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved plant height, leaf area index, tiller density, dry matter accumulation, grain yield, straw yield, harvest index, and economic returns compared with the control. Among the treatments, 75% RDF + 1.25 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost + 20 kg ZnSO₄ ha⁻¹ + 5 kg Azotobacter ha⁻¹ (T₁₁) recorded the highest grain yield of 4856.40 kg ha⁻¹ and 4912.00 kg ha⁻¹ during 2024–25 and 2025–26, respectively. The same treatment also produced the highest net returns of ₹70,493 ha⁻¹ and ₹72,546 ha⁻¹ during the respective years. These findings indicate that the integrated application of 75% RDF, vermicompost, ZnSO₄, and Azotobacter can effectively enhance wheat productivity and profitability while reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers under the agro-climatic conditions of Punjab, India.

Effects of Varying Levels of Poultry Manure on Growth and Yield of Canola (Brassica napus L.) under Kabul Agro-climatic Conditions

Canola (Brassica napus L.) is one of the key oilseed crops worldwide, serving as a vital source of edible oil, livestock feed, and biofuel. In Afghanistan, canola production faces significant challenges due to declining soil fertility and over-reliance on expensive chemical fertilizers. Poultry manure, as a low cost and nutrient-rich organic fertilizer, offers a sustainable alternative for improving crop productivity. However, limited scientific information is available regarding the optimal poultry manure application rate for canola under Kabul’s agro-climatic conditions. Therefore, an experimental research was conducted at Kabul University Agricultural Research Farm during the 2025 cropping season using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and four treatments. The study aimed to evaluate Effects of Different Levels of Poultry manure on Growth, Yield, and Yield Components of Canola. The findings of the study revealed that the application of poultry manure significantly influenced on growth, yield and yield components of canola. Overall, the application of 8-ton poultry manure ha-1 had better performance than control. The maximum plant height (117.45 cm), number of branches plant-1 (5.65), number of leaves plant-1 (39.77), number of siliques plant-1 (184.61), silique length (6.01 cm), number of seeds silique-1 (18.39), thousand seed weight (3.40 g), seed yield (2.74 t ha⁻¹), biological yield (9.87 t ha⁻¹), and harvest index (27.76%) were all recorded in T4. The lowest values for all parameters were observed in the control treatment (T1). It is recommended that use 8 tons of poultry manure ha-1 in order to realize optimal seed yield and biological yield of the crop.

Response of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nutrients On Growth, Flowering and Yield of Strawberry (Fragaria×Ananassa Duch) Cv. ‘Winter Dawn’

Growth and yield performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties under integrated nutrient management

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

Effect of Different Levels of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) Fertilizer on Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Variety Flip 94

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important pulse crop valued for its nutritional quality and role in sustainable agriculture. However, productivity is often constrained by low soil fertility and poor nutrient management, particularly phosphorus deficiency. A field experiment was conducted during the 2025 growing season at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kabul University, Afghanistan, to evaluate the effect of different levels of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer on growth and yield of chickpea variety Flip 94. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five DAP levels (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha⁻¹) and three replications. Results showed that DAP application significantly influenced all growth and yield parameters, while replication effects were non-significant. Treatment 3 (100 kg ha⁻¹ DAP) consistently performed best, recording the highest plant height (34.23 cm), number of branches per plant (4.92), number of pods per plant (37.47), grains per pod (1.93), and grain yield (5.52 t ha⁻¹). In contrast, the control treatment recorded the lowest values for all studied traits. The improved performance under optimal DAP application is attributed to enhanced nutrient availability, better root development, increased nodulation, and improved photosynthetic efficiency, which collectively supported stronger vegetative growth and reproductive development. In conclusion, application of DAP fertilizer significantly improves chickpea growth and yield under Kabul agro-climatic conditions. Treatment 3 (100 kg ha⁻¹ DAP) was identified as the most effective dose for maximizing productivity of chickpea variety Flip 94.

Efficacy of Nutripearls Fertilizer on Yield Components and Productivity of Transplanted Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was carried out during the Kharif season of 2022 at the Research Farm of the Department of Agronomy, JNKVV, Jabalpur (M.P.), to evaluate the effects of Nutripearls, an organic acid-based granular fertiliser, on the yield components and productivity of transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L., cv. JR 206). The trial was laid out in a Randomised Block Design (RBD) with nine treatment combinations involving graded levels of the Recommended Dose of Fertilisers (RDF) and Nutripearls applied at the tillering and panicle initiation (PI) stages. The results demonstrated significant variations among treatments in yield attributes and overall productivity. Application of 100% RDF + Nutripearls @ 50 kg/ha at the tillering and PI stages (T2) recorded superior growth and yield parameters, including the maximum number of effective tillers (406.5/m2), panicle length (27.87 cm), and sound grains per panicle (196.27), along with the lowest number of sterile grains per panicle (6.47). Consequently, T2 produced the highest straw yield (7582.20 kg/ha) and harvest index (43.91%), markedly outperforming both 100% RDF alone (T8) and the untreated control (T9). Higher doses of Nutripearls (75 kg/ha and 100 kg/ha) did not offer significant improvements over the 50 kg/ha rate. Overall, integrating Nutripearls at 50 kg/ha alongside 100% RDF can enhance nutrient availability and crop partitioning efficiency, indicating its potential for maximising transplanted rice yields under the experimental conditions.