Flax is among the most significant industrial oilseed crops in the world, as well as in Afghanistan. It is high in health-promoting fatty acids. However, its yield and quality are low owing to poor nitrogen fertilizer use and lack of improved cultivars in Afghanistan. Hence, a field trial was conducted at the Research Farm of the Agriculture Faculty of Kabul University during the main cropping season of 2025 to evaluate four nitrogen rates (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg/ha). The study was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) arrangement with four replications. The size of each experimental unit was 2 m × 2 m (4 m2), with six rows. Distances of 30 cm and 40 cm were left between plots and blocks, respectively. The spacing between rows was 30 cm, and the spacing between plants was 15 cm. Significant differences were observed in the different levels of nitrogen on plant height, number of capsules per plant, number of branches per plant, number of seeds per capsule, 1000-seed weight, length of roots, biological yield, grain yield, and straw yield. However, the results showed that the 100 kg N/ha fertilization level significantly outperformed in number of seeds per capsule, number of capsules per plant, 1000-seed weight, and seed yield. Meanwhile, the 150 kg N/ ha fertilization level excelled in plant height and number of branches per plant, biological yield, and straw yield.
Abstract The soil used is sandy in texture, low in nutrients, and low in organic matter, and therefore has low cation exchange capacity. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of improving their physicochemical and biological properties by inoculating the roots with a solution of Methylobacterium and liquid compost in cauliflower cultivation, as well as integrating a treatment through an automated drip irrigation system. This biostimulant, biofertilizer, and biocontrol agent solution was used, which has applications in agriculture to improve soil health and crop productivity. The experiment was set up under a completely randomized block design with four treatments (T0, T1, T2, and T3), corresponding to doses of 0, 250, 333, and 400 mL per 200 L of water, respectively. The results indicated that treatment T3 significantly optimized the plant's physiological response to salt stress, increasing both its antioxidant capacity and chlorophyll α concentration. Likewise, physical characterization revealed significant differences in the morphological parameters of cauliflower, suggesting greater metabolic resistance and improved nutritional quality. Finally, ultrastructural analysis of the epidermis and stomata using microscopy showed that, while the control treatment (T0) had a collapsed surface, treatment T3 showed a functional and turgid ultrastructure. This demonstrates that the inoculation applied mitigates the phytotoxic impact of the substrate and optimizes the metabolic potential of the crop.
Nitrogen is a key macronutrient that plays an essential role in plant growth, development, and yield formation in oilseed crops such as mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Proper nitrogen management is important for improving productivity while ensuring economic efficiency and environmental sustainability, particularly in low-input farming systems like those in Afghanistan. This study was conducted to assess the effect of different urea (nitrogen) levels on the growth, yield attributes, phenology, and grain yield of mustard under Kabul agro-climatic conditions. A field experiment was arranged with four treatments: T₁ (0 kg urea ha⁻¹), T₂ (60 kg urea ha⁻¹), T₃ (80 kg urea ha⁻¹), and T₄ (100 kg urea ha⁻¹) using a randomized design. Data were collected on plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, phenological traits (flowering and maturity), and grain yield. The results showed that nitrogen application significantly improved vegetative growth and yield components of mustard. Increasing nitrogen levels enhanced plant height, number of branches, and pods per plant. Grain yield responded positively to nitrogen application, with the highest yield consistently obtained at 80 kg urea ha⁻¹. However, further increase in nitrogen above this level did not result in proportional yield improvement, indicating diminishing returns. Phenological traits such as days to flowering and maturity were not significantly affected by nitrogen levels. Overall, the study concludes that moderate nitrogen application optimizes growth and yield of mustard without affecting its growth duration. The application of 80 kg urea ha⁻¹ is recommended as the optimal rate for mustard production under Kabul conditions, as it improves productivity, enhances nitrogen use efficiency, reduces production costs, and supports sustainable agriculture.
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.
Nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient for plant growth. Therefore, nitrogen fertilization of pastures must be prioritized to sustain high pasture yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate physiological and agronomic responses of Tamani grass managed under different nitrogen fertilization strategies. A randomized block design with four replications was used. Treatments consisted of the application of fertilizer‐controlled release (FCR) fractioned in one, two, four, or six applications per year (FCR 1×, FCR 2×, FCR 4×, or FCR 6×), conventional urea (CU), and without N fertilization (0N). The application of CU fertilizer was divided according to the number of cycles per year, considering a 21‐day cycle (rest period). The nitrogen dose corresponds to 600 kg N ha −1 year −1 . The variables photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance showed higher rates in the FCR 6× and 4× strategies, while the variables transpiration rate, internal concentration of CO 2 , and leaf temperature were not influenced by the fertilization strategies. The highest tiller population density was observed in the CU, FCR 4×, and FCR 6×. Pastures managed with FCR 4× showed increments of 28% and 197% in total accumulated forage biomass and 27% and 209% in accumulated green forage biomass, compared to CU and 0N, respectively. The highest accumulated total forage, green forage, and green leaf blade biomass was observed in pastures managed with FCR 4× (26,733, 25,566, and 25,561 kg ha −1 year −1 , respectively). Applying FCR in four or six fractioned per year positively influenced the structural, physiological, and agronomic characteristics of Tamani grass.
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.
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