International Journal of Plant & Soil Science
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Effect of Organic Input Sources on Quality and Quantity of Finger Millet Production under Natural Farming
No full textA study was conducted at Agronomy research farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura, Sher- e- Kashmir university of Agriculture sciences & Technology, Effect of Organic input sources on quality and quantity of Finger millet production under Natural farming practices. The field experiment was laid out in split-plot design with 16 treatments replicated thrice. The treatment comprised main plot treatments (soil application) FYM 10 t/ha, Vermicompost 5 t/ha, Poultry manure 3 t/ha, sheep manure 3 t/ha and Sub plot treatment (foliar application) which sprays interval of spray after every 21 days till flowering 3% panchgavya, 10% Vermi-wash Panchgavya, 10% jeevamrithum and, 3%RLB. In this experiment, RLB is my self- made bio-liquid fertilizer which consist of kitchen waste, cow products and medicinal plants also works as bio-pesticide and bio-insecticide. The application of sheep manure 3 t/ha and RLB 3% significantly enhanced effective number of tillers per meter square, Finger length, Finger weight/ shoot, test weight, Grain yield and Straw yield. It also increased protein (%), crude fiber (%) and carbohydrate significantly through foliar application. These research findings can assist growers in achieving better and more sustainable finger millet production, thereby enhancing its accessibility among end-users due to its organic cultivation
Hydrogel as a Soil Amendment for Enhancing Tomato Growth and Soil Health in Sandy Soils of Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh, India
No full textA pot experiment was conducted at Organic Research Farm, Karaguanji, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, (U.P.), during Kharif Season 2024-25. This study aims to the effect of hydrogel, deficit irrigation and course sandy soil type on water holding capacity, soil physic-chemical properties and yield attributes and yields of Tomato with six treatments and four replications. The results clearly revealed that application of hydrogel significantly improved soil properties such as WHC, available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Treatments having RDF+1.0% hydrogel (T5) having highest porosity and lowest bulk density and particle density value than other treatments. Consequently, a significantly higher number of fruits per plant, fruit diameter, average fruit weight and yield found in RDF + 1.0 hydrogel (w/w) (T5) treatment. Therefore, it can be summarized that addition of RDF + 1.0 hydrogel (w/w) (T5) recommendation significantly improved soils physical and chemical. This leads to a significant increase in tomato production. Results finding confirms that the application of hydrogels might be suggested to improve soil water holding capacity and enhance water use efficiency arid and semi arid conditions
Assessing the Nitrogen Leaching Potential of the Njala Soil Series Amended with Biochar
No full textUpland gravelly soils of Sierra Leone pose serious challenges to agriculture due to their low ability to retaining nutrients and water. Their highly weathered states, dominance of low activity clays and low organic matter content exacerbates their nutrient retention capabilities leading to high leaching of essential nutrients. However, there little knowledge about the magnitude of nutrient loss on Njala soils. This study was therefore conducted to quantify leaching losses of nitrogen from urea fertilizer in soils treated with and without biochar. In this study, four treatments were used to set up leaching columns: (i) Soil without Biochar (Control), (ii) Soil+Biochar, (iii) Soil+Fertilizer, and (iv) Soil+Biochar+Fertilizer. Each treatment was replicated three times. Leaching experiment was conducted daily for seven days. Leachates were collected daily and analyzed for total Nitrogen. The results showed a high rate of nutrients loss in soils not treated with biochar than soils treated with biochar. Hence, the study has revealed the magnitude of nitrogen loss from applied urea fertilizer is 74.1% while the addition of biochar can reduce the loss significantly to 40% on the gravelly upland soils of Njala. The study showed the vulnerability of nitrogen loss on the Njala uplands and the role of biochar in minimizing such loss
Stomatal Conductance and Leaf Temperature Responses of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) to Deficit Drip Irrigation Under Tropical Conditions
No full textWater scarcity threatens sustainable vegetable production in tropical regions, which necessitates water-efficient irrigation strategies. This study evaluated physiological responses of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) to deficit drip irrigation under tropical field conditions in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. A split-plot randomized complete block design tested three irrigation depths (100%, 85%, and 70% of crop evapotranspiration) as main plots and three irrigation intervals (1, 2, and 3 days) as subplots. Stomatal conductance and leaf temperature were measured weekly from 4 to 8 weeks after planting across vegetative and reproductive stages. Irrigation depth significantly affected both physiological parameters at critical growth stages (p < 0.05), while irrigation interval showed no significant effects. At 5 weeks after planting, deficit irrigation reduced stomatal conductance by 21.6-26.8% compared to full irrigation, indicating water stress during early reproduction. Unexpectedly, moderate deficit irrigation (85% crop evapotranspiration) exhibited 0.9-1.3°C lower leaf temperatures than full irrigation at multiple growth stages, suggesting enhanced thermoregulatory capacity through optimized stomatal regulation. By 6 weeks, moderate deficit showed the highest stomatal conductance among treatments, indicating adaptive physiological responses. Late-stage convergence of physiological parameters demonstrated successful acclimation to water deficit. Results support moderate deficit irrigation (85% crop evapotranspiration) as a viable water-saving strategy for tropical cucumber production, potentially reducing irrigation requirements by 15% while maintaining favourable physiological status. Irrigation scheduling flexibility (1-3day intervals) offers practical advantages for resource-constrained farmers without compromising plant function
Evaluating the Impact of Bioinoculants along with Organic Manures on Seed Germination of Fresh and Aged Seeds of Guava (Psidium guajava L.)
No full textThe present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of bioinoculants along with organic amendments on seed germination of fresh and aged seeds of guava (Psidium guajava L.) under open field conditions. The experiment aimed to assess the influence of selected bioinoculants along with organic manures on germination behaviour and subsequent vegetative growth of seedlings. Treatments comprised 15 different combinations of bioinoculants along with organic manures with control as untreated seeds, arranged in RBD design under open field conditions. The study concluded that among all the treatments, T15 (Sand + Vermicompost + PSB + Azotobacter + VAM) consistently performed best across all parameters. Fresh and aged seeds treated with this combination exhibited substantial improvements in germination percentage, vigour index-I, vigour index-II, shoot length, seedling girth and root length, showing increases of 217.52%, 477.50%, 883.78%, 56.29%, 127.06% and 54.87%, respectively, for fresh seeds, and 215.35%, 802.34%, 888.24%, 83.67%, 153.42% and 87.06%, respectively, for aged seeds, compared to the untreated control which recorded the lowest values across all parameters. Results indicated that bioinoculant along with organic amendments application significantly enhanced seedling establishment and growth, likely through improved nutrient uptake and increased rhizospheric activity
Agronomic Performance of Local and Improved Sorghum bicolor L. Moench Varieties in Sudanian Area, North of Côte d\u27Ivoire
No full textBackground: Sorghum is an important crop in Côte d’Ivoire but its cultivation was threatened by biotic stress and water deficit.
Aims: To evaluate the agronomic performance of improved introduced and local sorghum varieties in the Korhogo agroclimatic zone in northern Côte d\u27Ivoire.
Materials and methods: The experimental design was a completely randomized block design with three repetitions and a variety factor with 7 levels. The trial was carried out on in the university research station of Korhogo between July 2023 and December 2023.
The characterization of varieties was based on a set of parameters relating to phenology, plant morphology and yield and its components. The morpho-phenological diversity was structured using multivariate analyses. Firstly, a principal component analysis (PCA) was used to highlight the traits that best discriminate between the different accessions and their association. Next, a hierarchical ascending classification (HAC) was carried out to elucidate the phyletic relationships between the accessions analyzed.
Results: The results show that there is agro-morphological diversity within the varieties studied. Hierarchical ascending classification (HAC) revealed 3 groups of varieties. Multiple analysis of variance showed a significant difference between these three groups. Group 1 was made up of the introduced improved varieties (V1, V2 and V3), which had the best yields (1.56 t/ha) with a shorter average cycle length of 105.66 days. Group 2 was made up of three local varieties (V5, V7 and V4), which were characterized by a long average cycle length (134.44 days), large plant size (266.20 cm) and low yield (0.34 t/ha). Group 3 consisted of a single local sorghum variety (V6) with a long average cycle length (144.66 days), a high number of leaves (13.83 leaves) and zero yield.
Conclusion: The improved varieties were better adapted to the agro-climatic conditions of the study area and could be used to increase sorghum production there. Varieties from the other groups could be used as elite parents in a breeding and development program to create varieties that meet producers\u27 needs
Economic Analysis of Organic Strawberry Production Influenced by Biofertilizers and Biostimulants Application
No full textThe present study was conducted to evaluates the impact of biofertilizers and biostimulants on economic of organic strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) cultivation, specifically the Chandler variety, in Central Uttar Pradesh. Experiment was conducted over two growing seasons (2022–2024) using a randomized block design, the experiment included ten treatments combining biofertilizers such as Azotobacter and Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) with biostimulants like Panchagavya, Jiva Amrit and Amritpani. The study assessed fruit yield, cost of cultivation, net returns and the benefit-cost (B:C) ratio. Results indicate that treatment T₉ (Panchagavya + PSB + Azotobacter) yielded the highest productivity (167.12 Q/Ha), followed closely by T₁₀ (Jiva Amrit + PSB + Azotobacter) with 160.38 Q/Ha. The highest net return (Rs. 1,947,610/Ha) and B:C ratio (3.48) were observed in T₉, making it the most profitable option. In contrast, the control (T₁) with only farmyard manure (FYM) recorded the lowest yield (68.78 Q/Ha) and profitability (B:C ratio: 0.87). The findings highlight the economic viability of integrating biofertilizers and biostimulants in organic strawberry production. Treatments with Panchagavya and Jiva Amrit significantly enhanced soil fertility, nutrient uptake and plant resistance, contributing to improved yield and marketable quality. Given the rising demand for chemical-free produce, organic strawberry farming offers a sustainable and profitable alternative for farmers. Adoption of T₉ or T₁₀ is recommended for maximizing returns while ensuring long-term soil health and environmental sustainability
Standardization of Nutrient Sources and Foliar Calcium Nutrition for Productivity Enhancement in Grafted Tomato
No full textTomato is one of the most important vegetable crop and is highly demanding in case of fertilizer and water use. A field experiment was carried out during rabi season of 2023-24 at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram to standardize the nutrient sources for fertigation and to find out the effect of foliar nutrition of Ca for productivity enhancement in grafted tomato grown under polyethylene mulching. Experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications. The main plot treatments were four nutrient sources(S) (100% NPK fertigation through water soluble fertilizer (WSF), 100% NPK fertigation through conventional fertilizer (CF), 50 % NPK (WSF) + 50 % NPK (CF) and 100% NPK through soil (CF)) and the three sub plot treatments were Ca fertilization (F) ; No Ca fertilization, foliar application of 0.5% Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) at 1 MAP and foliar application of 0.5 % CAN at 1 and 2 MAP. The results revealed that 100% NPK fertigation through WSF recorded taller plants with higher leaf area and dry matter production. The yield attributes viz., fruits per truss, fruit set percentage, average fruit weight, yield per plant and higher TSS were observed with 100% NPK fertigation through water soluble fertilizer. The results revealed that application of nutrients through 100 % WSF(S1) or 50% through WSF and 50 % through CF (S3) recorded 28.6 % and 18.8 % increase in fruit yield over soil application of conventional fertilizers. The results also revealed that foliar application of 0.5% CAN at 1 and 2 MAP had significant influence on growth, yield and quality of grafted tomato
Effect of Different Management Practices on Yield Attributes and Productivity of Wheat + Mustard Intercropping System
No full textThe present investigation entitled “Effect of natural farming, organic farming, integrated crop management and conventional management practices on yield attributes and productivity of Wheat + Mustard intercropping system” was conducted under All India Network Programme on Organic Farming (AI-NPOF) during rabi season of 2022-23 and 2023-24 at Instructional Research farm, Krishi Nagar Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P). The soil of experiment was sandy clay loam, neutral in reaction (pH 6.7), low in organic carbon (0.62 %), medium in available nitrogen (281.43 kg ha-1), medium in available phosphorus (20.35 kg ha-1) and high in available potassium (272.12 kg ha-1). The experiment was carried out in a Randomized block design with six treatments and four replications. The treatment comprises of T1- Control (No addition of any input except labour for operations including weeding), T2- Complete Natural Farming Practices (1. Beejamrit + Ghanjeevamrit + Jeevamrit 2. Crop residue mulching 3. Intercropping 4. Whapasa), T3- Organic Management Practices (AI-NPOF package) (75 % RDN through organic sources + two foliar spray of 10 % cow urine and vermiwash at 30 and 50 DAS), T4-ICM (50 % nutrient through organic and 50 % nutrient through inorganic sources + natural/organic pesticides for pest management), T5-ICM (50 % nutrient through organic and 50 % nutrient through inorganic + need based pesticides) and T6-Conventional Management Practices (RDN 120:60:40 Kg ha-1 N: P2O5: K2O ha-1). The result of the experiment revealed that conventional management practices i.e. RDN @120:60:40 Kg ha-1 of N: P2O5: K2O proved to be best for wheat + mustard intercropping system in terms of yield attributes and yield and this was followed by integrated crop management i.e. 50 % RDN through organic and 50 % RDN through inorganic sources and pest management with need based pesticides. Higher wheat equivalent yield was recorded under conventional management practices
Properties of Soils of Medak District in Telangana State, India
No full textFor the management of soil and plant growth the physicochemical study of parameters are crucial.The objective of this study is to do the physical and chemical analysis of soil samples collected from agricultural fields of Medak district and to provide information to the farmers. Soil samples collected from twenty mandals at three samples per mandal from 0-15 cm depth. Soil parameters like soil texture, pH, EC, organic carbon available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and Sulphur tested and recorded. Results shows texture varies from sandy clay loam to sandy loam. pH shows slightly acidic, neutral to slightly alkaline. Electric conductivity remains within the safe limits. The organic carbon recorded maximum low to medium in content, low in nitrogen content, medium to high range in phosphorous, potassium. The available sulphur recorded deficient to sufficient values. The findings suggest that farmers should adopt appropriate soil management techniques, such as crop rotation and conservation tillage which will add to maintain the soil physical characteristics to ensure the sustainability of agricultural practices and the long-term health of the soil