Synergistic Organic-inorganic Nutrient Management Enhances Fruit Quality Attributes of Tomato cv. Kashi Aman

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.

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

Interactive Influence of Irrigation Regimes and Integrated Nutrient Management on Reproductive Performance and Seed Quality of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.)

A field experiment was conducted during 2023–24 and 2024–25 at the Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, to evaluate the interactive effects of irrigation regimes and integrated nutrient management (INM) on the reproductive performance and seed quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) var. Kashi Aman. The experiment followed a split-plot design with three replications, comprising normal irrigation and drought stress in the main plots and eight nutrient treatments in the subplots. Drought advanced flowering but reduced locule number, seeds per fruit, seed test weight and germination. The integrated treatment comprising 50% recommended fertiliser dose, 50% vermicompost and biofertilisers recorded the highest locule numbers, seeds per fruit, seed test weights and germination under both irrigation regimes. The treatment comprising 100% vermicompost and biofertilisers induced the earliest flowering under normal and drought conditions. Vermicompost alone, vermicompost with biofertilisers and biofertilisers alone showed comparatively greater stability for selected reproductive and seed-quality traits under drought. Overall, combining inorganic, organic and microbial nutrient sources supported tomato reproductive performance and seed quality under water-limited conditions. These findings indicate the potential value of integrated nutrient management for improving reproductive efficiency under drought, although validation across additional cultivars, locations and quantified water regimes is required before broader recommendations are made.

IMPACT OF INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON SOIL PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL FERTILITY UNDER INDIAN MUSTARD (BRASSICA JUNCEA L.)

gA field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2024-25 and 2025-26 at the Student Instructional Farm, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India to evaluate the impact of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on soil physico-chemical properties and soil fertility under Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications comprising ten nutrient management treatments involving different combinations of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and Azotobacter. Soil samples collected after harvest were analyzed for physical and chemical properties. Integrated application of organic manures, biofertilizers and inorganic fertilizers significantly improved soil health over the control. The treatment comprising 50% RDF + PSB + 2.0 t ha-1 vermicompost + 5.0 t ha-1 FYM (T10) recorded the lowest bulk density (1.24 Mg m-3), particle density (2.34 Mg m-3), soil pH (7.47) and electrical conductivity (0.32 dS m-1), while exhibiting the highest total porosity (46.02%), water holding capacity (39.51%), cation exchange capacity (14.15 Cmol(p⁺) kg-1), organic carbon (0.451%), exchangeable calcium (3.40 Cmol(p⁺) kg-1) and magnesium (1.00 Cmol(p⁺) kg-1) in T10.  However, the highest available nitrogen (198.83 kg ha-1) was recorded under 100% RDF (T2), whereas the maximum available phosphorus (24.08 kg ha-1), potassium (228.42 kg ha-1) and sulphur (9.75 kg ha-1) were observed under 75% RDF + PSB + 1.0 t ha-1 vermicompost + 2.5 t ha-1 FYM (T6). The study demonstrates that integrated nutrient management effectively enhances soil physical and chemical properties while improving nutrient availability, thereby contributing to sustainable mustard production.

Evaluation of Organic Manures and Recommended Chemical Fertilizers on Growth, Yield, and Economic Performance of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Under Irrigated Condition

Okra is an economically important vegetable crop with high nutritional value, widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions globally. An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of eight treatments on the growth, yield, and economic performance of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) under irrigated conditions in the Kilinochchi District, Sri Lanka, during September to November 2023. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Eight treatments (T1–T8) consisting of different organic manure applications, and the Department of Agriculture (DOA)-recommended chemical fertilizers were applied, including a control treatment without organic manure. Haritha okra was used as the test variety. Growth parameters including plant height, dry weight, and number of leaves, and yield parameters including number of pods per plant, fresh pod weight, and shelf life were evaluated. Poultry manure applied at 460 g plant⁻¹ (T2) recorded the highest plant height (31.4 cm), number of leaves (8.0 leaves plant⁻¹), dry pod weight (13.3 g plant⁻¹), fresh pod weight (130 g plant⁻¹), number of pods per plant (8 pods), and shelf life (5.7 days). Compared with the control treatment (T1), poultry manure increased plant height by 35.3%, fresh pod weight by 160%, and shelf life by 32.6%. No significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) was observed between T2 and T5 (cattle manure: poultry manure, 230 g: 230 g plant⁻¹). The highest benefit-cost ratio was recorded in T2 and T5. It can be concluded that poultry manure at 460 g plant⁻¹ was the most effective treatment for improving the growth, yield, and economic performance of okra under irrigated conditions.

Study on the Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield Attributes and Yield of Basmati Rice

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2020 and 2021 at the Research Farm of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate integrated nutrient management in transplanted basmati rice. Ten treatments comprising graded levels of the recommended dose of NPK fertiliser, pressmud, vermicompost, and NPK-solubilising microbial consortia were evaluated in a split-plot design with three replications. Plant height, tiller number, dry matter accumulation, yield attributes, grain and straw yields, biological yield, and harvest index were recorded. The application of 125% of the recommended NPK dose produced the highest plant height at harvest (116.2 cm), number of tillers at harvest (262 m⁻²), dry matter accumulation at harvest (1,101.4 g m⁻²), panicle length (26.5 cm), filled grains per panicle (84), grain yield (46.1 q ha⁻¹), straw yield (63.8 q ha⁻¹), biological yield (109.9 q ha⁻¹), and harvest index (41.9%). The control recorded the lowest grain yield (22.4 q ha⁻¹) and biological yield (69.8 q ha⁻¹). However, 75% NPK + pressmud at 1.5 t ha⁻¹ + NPK consortia and 100% NPK + NPK consortia produced statistically comparable values to 125% NPK for most growth and yield parameters. These findings indicate that combining mineral fertiliser with organic and microbial inputs can maintain competitive crop performance while reducing reliance on fertiliser application above the recommended dose.