Comparative Evaluation of Organic and Inorganic Nutrient Management in Vegetable Crops

Abstract

Efficient nutrient management is essential for improving the productivity, quality, and sustainability of vegetable production systems. Vegetable crops require adequate and balanced nutrient supplies because of their rapid growth, short cropping duration, and high nutrient demand. Traditionally, inorganic fertilizers have been widely used to achieve higher yields; however, excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers has resulted in declining soil fertility, nutrient imbalances, environmental pollution, and increased production costs. In contrast, organic nutrient management utilizes farmyard manure, compost, vermicompost, green manure, crop residues, biofertilizers, and other organic amendments to improve soil health, microbial activity, and long-term agricultural sustainability. Both nutrient management systems possess distinct advantages and limitations with respect to nutrient availability, crop productivity, product quality, soil fertility, and environmental impacts. Recent agricultural research emphasizes integrated nutrient management (INM), which combines organic and inorganic nutrient sources to maximize crop yield while maintaining soil health and minimizing ecological degradation. Advanced technologies such as precision nutrient management, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and soil testing support efficient nutrient application according to crop requirements. This paper comparatively evaluates the principles, nutrient dynamics, crop responses, environmental impacts, economic considerations, and sustainability of organic and inorganic nutrient management in vegetable crops. It also examines the role of integrated nutrient management and emerging technologies in achieving sustainable and climate-resilient vegetable production..