Effect of Foliar Application of Gibberellic Acid at Different Concentrations on Growth, Yield and Quality of Soybean (Glycine max L) under Semi-Arid of Kabul conditions

Effect of Different Soil Amendments on Growth, Yield, and Yield Components of Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) Variety 08 Zudrus

This study was conducted from May–September 2025 / the 2025 growing season at the Research Farm of the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kabul University, to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth, yield, and yield components of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) variety 08 Zudrus. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments with three replications. Treatments included a control, NPK fertilizer, XiR Biomass containing 10% humic acid, and XiR Biomass containing 20% humic acid. Data on growth, yield components, and yield parameters were analyzed using STAR software (version 2.0.1) through analysis of variance (ANOVA) at the 5% significance level. Fertilizer treatments significantly influenced several growth and yield traits. XiR Biomass containing 20% humic acid produced the tallest plants (35.10 cm), the highest number of pods per plant (10.53), and the greatest biological yield (7851.63 kg ha⁻¹), whereas XiR Biomass containing 10% humic acid produced the highest grain yield (2202.38 kg ha⁻¹) and number of grains per pod (11.00). In contrast, tiller number, branch number, pod length, pod width, and 100-seed weight were not significantly affected. Overall, XiR Biomass organic fertilizers showed greater potential than NPK fertilizer for improving mung bean growth and productivity under the agro-ecological conditions of Kabul.

Effect of Foliar Application of Glutamine on Growth, Physiological Characteristics and Protein Content of Different Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] Varieties

Background: Glutamic acid plays an important role by increasing the plant’s resistance to climate change and tolerance to unfavourable conditions such as high temperature, water stress, salinity and snow. It also acts as a strong chelating agent for trace elements and environmentally friendly fertilisers. Methods: An experiment was conducted in plastic pots during the spring 2023 season in Kirkuk governorate, Iraq, to evaluate the effects of sorghum plant varieties (Rabih, Khair and Inkhath) under different doses of foliar application of glutamine (0, 40, 80 and 100 mg L-1) on growth, physiological characteristics and protein percent in grains. This experiment was designed using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Result: The Inkhath variety significantly required fewer days to reach 50% flowering: 62.10 days. Also, it was significantly superior in plant height, leaf chlorophyll content, plant leaf number and flag leaf area, reaching 115.23 cm, 55.50 SPAD, 10.59 leaves plant-1 and 368.82 cm2, respectively. The concentration of 100 mg L-1 glutamic acid was significantly the earliest at 50% flowering with the highest plant height, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf number, flag leaf area and grain protein percentage, reaching 58.31 days, 116.22 cm, 56.53 SPAD, 10.44 leaves plant-1, 391.68 cm2 and 14.36%, respectively. The interaction between Inkhath variety and spraying with 100 mg glutamic acid was significantly the earliest in 50% flowering with the highest means in plant height, leaf chlorophyll content, plant leaf number and flag leaf area, reaching 55.60 days, 121.67 cm, 58.00 SPAD, 11.06 leaves plant-1 and 450.06 cm2, respectively, as well as the interaction between Rabih variety with 100 mg glutamic acid was significantly recorded highest grain protein percentage 14.88 %. The Inkhath sorghum variety showed a high response to a high spraying rate of 100 mg L-1 glutamic acid, which improved growth, physiological traits and grain protein percentage.

Effects of Different Rates of Potassium Application on Growth and Yield of Soybean

Soybean is an important legume crop valued for its high protein and oil content, but its productivity is often limited by poor soil fertility and environmental stresses. This study aimed to determine the optimum potassium application rate for improving soybean growth and yield under the agroecological conditions of Kabul, Afghanistan. A field experiment was conducted during the 2025 growing season at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kabul University, using a randomized complete block design with five potassium levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 kg ha⁻¹) and three replications. Standard agronomic practices were applied uniformly throughout the experiment. Data were collected on plant height, branches per plant, pods per plant, total seeds per plant, 100-seed weight, and grain yield, and analysed using STAR software with the least significant difference test at the 5% probability level. Potassium application had no significant effect on vegetative growth traits, including plant height and number of branches per plant. However, it significantly improved yield components and grain yield. The application of 75 kg K ha⁻¹ produced the highest number of pods per plant, greatest 100-seed weight, and maximum grain yield, whereas increasing the rate to 100 kg K ha⁻¹ resulted in reduced yield. The findings indicate that potassium application enhances soybean productivity primarily through improved yield components rather than vegetative growth. It is concluded that 75 kg K ha⁻¹ is the optimum potassium rate for maximizing soybean yield under the agroecological conditions of Kabul, Afghanistan.

Effect of Foliar Application of GA₃, NAA, and Zinc on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is an economically important vegetable crop valued for its culinary, nutritional, and commercial significance. Optimising the foliar application of plant growth regulators and micronutrients may improve onion growth, bulb yield, quality, and production economics. The study aims to evaluate the effects of plant growth regulators and zinc on the growth, yield, and quality of onion. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2025–26 at the Horticulture Research Field, Prof. Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) University, Naini, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, The experiment was arranged in a randomised block design with seven treatments and three replications. The treatments comprised GA₃ (100 ppm), NAA (200 ppm), zinc (0.1%), and their combinations, applied as foliar sprays at 30 and 60 days after transplanting (DAT). Among the treatments, T₅ (GA₃ 100 ppm + zinc 0.1%) produced the highest plant height (56.57, 60.12, and 66.19 cm), number of leaves per plant (6.87, 8.00, and 13.01), pseudostem length (6.83, 9.32, and 14.74 cm), and pseudostem diameter (1.92, 2.83, and 3.51 cm) at 45, 60, and 90 DAT, respectively. The same treatment also recorded the highest average bulb weight (85.36 g), polar diameter (6.14 cm), equatorial diameter (6.33 cm), yield per plot (11.35 kg plot⁻¹), and yield per hectare (28.38 t ha⁻¹), followed by T₆ (NAA 200 ppm + zinc 0.1%). In contrast, the highest total soluble solids (12.20 °Brix), titratable acidity (0.31%), ascorbic acid (13.43 mg 100 g⁻¹), and total sugar content (6.43%) were recorded under T₄ (GA₃ 100 ppm + NAA 200 ppm). The control (T₇) recorded the lowest values for most parameters. In this study, GA₃ (100 ppm) combined with zinc (0.1%) improved onion growth and yield, whereas GA₃ (100 ppm) combined with NAA (200 ppm) improved bulb quality.

Effect of Foliar Nutrition of Nano Urea on Growth, Yield Attributes, Yield and Economics of Groundnut [Arachis hypogaea (L.)]

Groundnut is the 13th most important food crop and the fourth most important oilseed crop in the world. Groundnut seeds contain about 50% edible oil. Foliar nutrient application is a feasible, economically viable, and eco-friendly approach to nutrient management. It is often an effective and economical method for correcting plant nutrient deficiencies at critical growth stages. Foliar application may promote the root absorption of the same or other nutrients by improving root growth and nutrient uptake. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at two locations, namely the Regional Research Station, Vridhachalam, and the Oilseeds Research Station, Tindivanam, during the kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023 to study the effect of foliar nano urea application on the growth, yield, and quality of groundnut. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with four replications and six treatments: T1, 100% RDN (25 kg N/ha) through granular urea (GU), with 50% applied as basal (27.5 kg), 25% at the flowering stage (FS; 13.75 kg), and 25% at peg formation (PF; 13.75 kg); T2, 50% RDN through GU as basal + 50% RDN through nano urea (NU; 275 mL) at FS; T3, 50% RDN through GU as basal + 50% RDN through NU (275 mL) at PF; T4, 50% RDN through GU as basal + 25% RDN through NU (137.5 mL) at FS + 25% RDN through NU (137.5 mL) at PF; T5, 50% RDN through GU as basal + 30% RDN through NU (165 mL) at FS + 20% RDN through NU (110 mL) at PF; and T6, 50% RDN through GU as basal + 40% RDN through NU (220 mL) at FS + 10% RDN through NU (55 mL) at PF. Growth and yield parameters were recorded and analysed statistically. The results showed that T5 recorded the highest plant height, dry matter production (5,887 kg/ha), number of pods per plant, pod yield (2,386 kg/ha), and nitrogen use efficiency (80%). This treatment also produced the highest net income (Rs. 92,754/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (2.49). Shelling percentage did not differ significantly among treatments. Under the tested conditions, splitting foliar nano urea between flowering and peg formation performed better than applying the entire foliar quantity at either stage alone.

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