Effects of integrated farmyard manure, plant biostimulants, and bioinoculants on growth, yield, and energy fractions in a maize–berseem fodder cropping system
Jul 2026· Frontiers in Agronomy· 0 citations· 43 references
Abstract
The increasing demand for livestock-derived products and the growing emphasis on sustainable agricultural production necessitate the development of efficient organic nutrient management strategies for fodder-based cropping systems.
A two-year field experiment was conducted at the ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, located in the Trans-Gangetic Plains of India, to evaluate the integrated effects of farmyard manure (FYM), plant biostimulants (
Panchagavya
and seaweed extract), and bioinoculants on the growth, yield, chlorophyll content, and energy fractions of fodder maize (
Zea mays
L.) and berseem (
Trifolium alexandrinum
L.). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with six treatments and six replications.
Among the treatments, T
3
(PGPR + 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through FYM + three foliar sprays of
Panchagavya
) consistently produced the highest growth, fodder yield, chlorophyll concentration, and energy fractions in both crops during the two experimental years. In fodder maize, T
3
recorded the maximum green fodder yield (32.4–34.7 t ha
-
¹) and dry fodder yield (7.4–8.1 t ha
-
¹). Similarly, in berseem, T
3
produced the highest total green fodder yield (57.0–58.5 t ha
-
¹) and dry fodder yield (7.6–8.1 t ha
-
¹), over the absolute control. Total chlorophyll content reached 2.39–2.43 mg g
-
¹ in maize and 2.29–2.32 mg g
-
¹ in berseem under T
3
, accompanied by significant improvements in digestible energy, metabolizable energy, digestible feed energy, and net energy. The PGPR + 75% RDN through FYM + seaweed extract treatment (T
4
) also produced significant improvements over the absolute control and ranked among the best-performing treatments across most measured parameters, demonstrating the potential of seaweed extract as an effective biostimulant in integrated nutrient management.
Overall, the findings demonstrate that integrating PGPR with 75% RDN through FYM and
Panchagavya
was the most effective strategy for enhancing fodder productivity, nutritive quality, and energy value, while the PGPR + 75% RDN through FYM + seaweed extract treatment also provided substantial benefits and represents a promising alternative biostimulant-based approach for sustainable maize–berseem fodder production systems.
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.
Prabhjot Kaur, H. Meena· Journal of Applied Life Scie...· 0 citations
The declining productivity of rice and deterioration of soil health associated with conventional rice cultivation necessitate the adoption of sustainable nutrient management strategies. Field experiments were conducted during the Kharif seasons of 2021–22 and 2022–23 at the Students’ Instructional Farm, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, to evaluate the effects of organic manure, inorganic fertilisers and bio-inoculants on the growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment comprised 18 treatment combinations arranged in a randomised block design with 3 replications, involving different combinations of inorganic fertilisers, organic manures and biofertilisers. The results indicated that among the various growth parameters, the maximum plant height (99.15 cm and 99.85 cm), number of tillers (409.4 m-2 and 412.25 m-2), dry matter accumulation (760.48 g m-2 and 764.34 g m-2) and leaf area index (4.32 and 4.37) were recorded during 2021–22 and 2022–23, respectively, under treatment T17 (100 % NPK + 5 t ha-1 FYM + Azolla 300 kg ha-1 + S 30 kg ha-1 + Zn 5 kg ha-1). These findings highlight the synergistic effects of integrating organic and inorganic nutrient sources along with bio-inoculants. This integrated approach enhances crop performance, improves soil sustainability and ensures better economic returns, making it a promising strategy for modern rice farming systems.
Yadav Abhishek Singh, S. Sanjeev, S. Krashankant et al.· Plant Science Today· 0 citations
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.
N. Saheedha, K. Aafir· Knowex food and agriculture· 0 citations
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a fast-growing, nutrient-demanding fruit crop with continuous vegetative and reproductive development. The present study evaluated the effects of organic manures and bio-inoculants, applied with different levels of inorganic fertilisers, on the growth, flowering, yield attributes, and fruit yield of papaya cv. CO 7 under the humid tropical conditions of Kerala. The field experiment was conducted in a randomised block design comprising 12 treatments, three replications, and four plants per treatment. Treatments included combinations of the recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF; 240:240:480 g NPK plant⁻¹ year⁻¹), farmyard manure, vermicompost, poultry manure, biovermi, bone meal, wood ash, Trichoderma viride, and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Biometric, floral, and fruit characteristics were recorded, and the data were analysed using MSTAT.C, with treatment means compared by DMRT. The treatment comprising RDF + vermicompost (13 kg plant⁻¹) + T. viride (5 g plant⁻¹) + P. fluorescens (10 g plant⁻¹) recorded the greatest plant height, collar girth, fruit length, fruit girth, fruit weight, fruit volume, seed number, and fruit yield. This treatment produced 42.59 kg fruit plant⁻¹. RDF + poultry manure (10 kg plant⁻¹) + the two bio-inoculants recorded the highest number of fruits per plant and a yield of 40.93 kg plant⁻¹. Fully organic treatments yielded less than the integrated nutrient treatments. Under the conditions of this study, combining RDF with vermicompost and bio-inoculants was the most effective nutrient-management treatment for papaya cv. CO 7.
E. M. Shijini, K. L. Mathew· Asian Journal of Soil Scienc...· 0 citations
A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2022 and 2023 at Dr. BRC Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Mandor, Rajasthan, to evaluate the effect of biofertilisers and growth-promoting microorganisms on growth, yield, and profitability of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek, var. GM-4) under the mungbean–wheat cropping system. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with ten treatments and three replications. Treatments consisted of different combinations of the recommended dose of fertilisers and seed inoculation, soil application, or combined seed and soil application of Rhizobium and phosphate-solubilising bacteria (PSB). The results indicated that growth parameters, yield attributes, grain yield, biological yield, and economic returns were significantly influenced by the treatments. The greatest numerical plant heights at 30 DAS (46.8 cm) and 45 DAS (55.9 cm) were recorded under T₁₀, while T₅ recorded comparable values of 45.8 and 55.3 cm, respectively. The highest numbers of pods per plant (39.6) and seeds per pod (13.5), dry matter production (3.50 t ha⁻¹), and test weight (48.1 g) were observed under T₅, whereas the highest numerical chlorophyll content (4.00 mg g⁻¹) was recorded under T₁₀. The highest grain yield (pooled: 1458 kg ha⁻¹) and net return (₹98,855 ha⁻¹) were recorded with 100% RDF (T₅), whereas 75% RDF combined with seed and soil application of Rhizobium + PSB (T₁₀) produced a pooled grain yield of 1400 kg ha⁻¹ and a B:C ratio of 4.41, remaining statistically at par with T₅. Thus, integrated use of biofertilisers with 75% RDF can reduce fertiliser requirement without significant yield loss and improve profitability.
A. Verma, M. Mehriya, Ashish Vishnawat· International Journal of Pla...· 0 citations
An experiment was conducted during 2025–2026 at the Central Orchard (Horticulture Research Farm), Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Faculty of Agriculture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS), Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate foliar applications of plant growth regulators, micronutrients, and seaweed extract in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Kandhari. Eight-year-old, uniform trees of pomegranate cv. Kandhari were used for the study. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design (RBD) with eleven treatments and three replications. The treatments comprised foliar applications of plant growth regulators (GA₃ and NAA), micronutrients (ZnSO₄ and borax), and seaweed extract, applied individually and in different combinations. The first foliar spray was applied in September 2025. The results revealed that treatment T₁₀ (GA₃ at 100 ppm + NAA at 40 ppm + seaweed extract at 5 ml L⁻¹ + ZnSO₄ at 0.5% + borax at 0.2%) produced the maximum vegetative growth and was the most effective treatment. However, T₆ (NAA at 40 ppm + ZnSO₄ at 0.5% + borax at 0.2%) was found to be the most economically viable treatment. The study indicates that integrated foliar application of plant growth regulators, micronutrients, and seaweed extract can significantly improve vegetative growth, total number of flowers, number of fruits per plant, and fruit weight (g) in pomegranate under Prayagraj agro-climatic conditions.
Rajani Srivastava, Deepak Lall, Vijay Bahadur et al.· International Journal of Pla...· 0 citations
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