Explore the vast range of titles available.

Carrot ( Daucus carota L.) is one of the most important root crops grown worldwide and in Ethiopia. However, its production and productivity are low due to a lack of improved varieties and unbalanced fertilizer rates, among other factors. The field experiment was, therefore, conducted to determine the performance of carrot varieties through blended fertilizer rates at Gondar district for a consecutive period of two years. The treatment consisted of six rates of blended NPSB (Nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and Boron) fertilizer (0, 40.6, 81.3, 122, 162.3, and 203.4 kg ha -1 ) and two carrot varieties (Haramay-I and Nantes), which were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main effect of blended NPSB received in 162.3 kg ha -1 obtained the highest root diameter (3.38 cm), root length (20.93 cm), and root volume (110.60 mm). The main effect of the year was also the maximum number of leaves (10.3), root diameter (2.96 cm), root length (20.09 cm), and root volume (89.20 mm) recorded from the 2021 planting year. On the other hand, in the interaction of variety and NPSB, the highest root fresh weight (134.48 g plant -1 ) was obtained from the Haramaya-I variety and the application of 162.3 NPSB kg ha -1 , while the lowest (57.13 g plant -1 ) was recorded by the Nantes variety with control. The highest dry matter (13.67%), marketable (50.77 t ha -1 ) and total (55.32 t ha -1 ) root yields were recorded from the interaction of 162.3 kg NPSB ha -1 and Haramaya-I variety. Therefore, the planting season and varietal selection should be considered in the carrot production area.

The Tef crop is significant in Ethiopia for domestic use and as a revenue source. However, the productivity of Tef is hampered by poor soil fertility and a lack of fertilizer recommendations tailored to different Tef varieties. In 2023, a field experiment was conducted in Tembaro District, Central Ethiopia, to address these issues. The main objective of this study was to determine the optimal blended NPSB fertilizer rates for different Tef varieties. Four NPSB fertilizer rates (0, 45, 90, and 135 kg/ha) and four Tef varieties [Local Check, Quncho, Tsedey (Cr‐37), and Bosset] with a seed rate of 7.5 kg/ha were used. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with three replications. Growth, yield, and other data were collected and analyzed using SAS 9.4. The results showed significant ( p < 0.05) interaction effects between variety and fertilizer rate for most measured traits, like days to 50% emergence, days to 50% flowering, and panicle length. Compared to the other variety‐fertilizer combinations analyzed, the study showed that the Quncho, when applied 135 kg/ha of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, boron (NPSB) fertilizer, had the highest grain yield (2.33 t/ha), straw yield (3.20283 t/ha), total biomass output (5.5328 t/ha), and harvest index (HI) (42%). The Quncho variety yielded a net benefit of 134,014 Ethiopian Birr and had the highest marginal rate of return (MRR%) at 1060%. These findings indicated that farmers in the area can increase the yield of Tef by applied with 135 kg/ha of NPSB fertilizer together with the Quncho variety. Additional multiseason research is required to confirm the present findings and offer detailed suggestions.

Maize is the most important food security crop in Ethiopia. This study assessed the impact of inorganic blended NPSB (19% N, 38% P 2 O 5 , 7% S and 0.1% B) fertilizer rates and intrarow spacing (IRS) on growth, phenology, lodging characteristics, yield, and yield components of maize. Field trials were carried out at two locations in Kembata Tembaro Zone, southern Ethiopia during 2021 main cropping season. A factorial combination of three IRS (20, 25, and 30 cm) and five blended NPSB fertilizer rates (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg·ha −1 ) was used in the experiment using a randomized complete block design replicated three times. At both sites, 150 kg·ha −1 NPSB rate produced the highest yields, 6.8 and 7.6 t·ha −1 , respectively. However, maize hybrid did not result in significant yield gain to NPSB application over 150 kg·ha −1 NPSB at either site. The longest days to anthesis (AD) (88 days) and days to silking (DS) (98.83 days) were observed from the control treatment at 20 and 30 cm IRS. The longest days to physiological maturity (DPM) were measured from 200 kg·ha −1 NPSB at both sites. At both sites, an increase in applied NPSB dose resulted in increased root lodging (RL) and stem lodging (SL) magnitude. Likewise, the highest plant population resulted in the highest RL and SL. The economic analysis found that using 150 kg NPSB·ha −1 along with 100 kg·ha −1 resulted in a financial benefit of 88,957.52 Birr·ha −1 with an MRR of 1364.34% in Mugunja, and 98,318 Birr ha −1 with an MRR of 2933.16% in Lalo site. Therefore, 150 kg NPSB ha −1 at 30 cm IRS is recommended for optimum yield of maize in the study areas.

Watermelon is a significant Cucurbitaceae crop that is widely cultivated around the world. However, production and productivity of the crop in Ethiopia are very low compared to the global average of 32.6 t ha −1 , which is mostly associated with soil fertility depletions as a result of inappropriate application of fertilizer. Therefore, this field experiment was conducted to enhance the production and productivity of watermelon by identifying economically optimum rates of Eco‐Green and blended (NPSB) fertilizer in West Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia. The experiment was designed in factorial combinations of four levels of Eco‐Green (0, 75, 150, and 225 L ha −1 ) and four levels of blended NPSB fertilizer (0, 125, 250, and 375 kg NPSB ha −1 ), which were laid down in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results of the study revealed that Eco‐Green and blended NPSB fertilizers had significant effect on growth, fruit yield and quality attributes of watermelon. Furthermore, the combined effect of Eco‐Green and blended NPSB fertilizers had a significant ( p < 0.001) influence on number of total fruit per plant, marketable fruit yield, total fruit yield, pulp weight, and total soluble solids. The highest marketable (59 t ha −1 ) and total fruit yield (83 t ha −1 ) were recorded from the treatment combinations of 150 L Eco‐Green ha −1 and 250 kg NPSB ha −1 fertilizer rates with net benefit of (1,228,825 ETB ha −1 ) and acceptable marginal rate of return of (27552.8%). Therefore, the combined application of this rate was recommended for economical and sustainable watermelon production in the study area and similar agroecology. However, this result is one season and location data and needs to be confirmed across locations and over seasons for broader applicability.

Sorghum is the main staple crop grown for food and feed in eastern Ethiopia. However, in the majorities of sorghum- producing areas of this area the parasitic weed , Striga hermonthica is the main bottleneck in reducing the productivity of the crop. Hence, in 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons field experiments were conducted in Fedis district, eastern Ethiopia to assess the interaction effects of common bean intercropping and blended NPS fertilizer on severity reduction of the weed and productivity of the crop. The treatment combinations consisted of four levels of NPS blended fertilizer (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1 NPS) in a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications, using susceptible sorghum variety ( Teshale) and common bean variety ( Dursitu ), with planting densities of (25%, 50%, and 75%). Results from the analysis of variance indicated that treatment interactions on Striga infestation caused highly significant ( p  < 0.001) changes. The combination of 50% common bean and 100 kg ha-1 NPS blended fertilizer application resulted in the lowest Striga count (2 Striga shoots) per plot, whereas the single planted susceptible sorghum variety (Teshale) produced the highest Striga count (8 Striga shoots) per plot. The main findings of this study consequently indicated that the host crop (sorghum) was supported by a 60% reduction in Striga hermonthica severity level when NPS fertilizer and common bean were combined. The combination of 50% common bean planting density and 100 kg NPS ha −1 blended fertilizer application yielded the maximum (2.54 t ha −1 ) grain yield of sorghum, while the control plot produced the lowest (0.98 t ha-1) grain yield. Hence, farmers in the study area could manage Striga and improve sorghum productivity through the combination of common bean with NPS blended fertilizer under natural Striga infestation.

One-time application of controlled-release blended fertilizer (CRBF, a mixture of five nitrogen (N) fertilizers in a certain ratio) can achieve high yield and N use efficiency (NUE) in rice (Oryza sativa L.). However, the effects of CRBF with one-time application on root spatial distribution and physiological characteristics remain unclear. We measured the effects of CRBF with one-time application on rice yield, NUE, root morphology and growth, and N uptake capacity in field and root box experiments. Six N treatments were set up: no nitrogen (N0), high-yield three-split application of urea as a control (CK), urea (U) with broadcast, U with side-deep fertilization, CRBF with broadcast, and CRBF with side-deep fertilization. Our findings showed that root characters were positively correlated with yield and NUE. Compared to CK and U treatments, CRBF with one-time applications increased root characters (including root biomass, root N uptake, root activity, and the expression level of ammonium transporters) at tillering and heading stages. The root length, surface area and volume in the 0–10 cm soil layer enhanced under CRBF with one-time applications at tillering stage, and in the 0–20 cm soil layer at the heading stage. This contributed a 5.96%–39.40% and 3.69%–16.87% increase in plant dry matter accumulation and N uptake, and a 2.08%–18.28% and 14.60%–149.57% increase in yield and NUE, in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Taken together, our findings showed that one-time application of CRBF could increase rice yield and NUE by optimizing the root morphology distribution and N uptake.

The objective of this study was to identify an application strategy for a blend of two controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers (CRNFs) that optimized yield and N-use efficiency of late japonica rice in the Yangtze River Delta. In a two-year field experiment using high-yield split-applied urea (CK) and no-N fertilization as control (N0), nine CRNF treatments were evaluated for their effects on grain yield, N uptake (NUP), soil ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) dynamics, and ammonia volatilization (AV). The treatments included sulfur-coated urea (SCU), urease inhibitor urea (AHA), 90-d polymer-coated urea (P90), 120-d polymer-coated urea (P120), and five BBFs prepared by mixing CRNFs at a 3:7 ratio (AHAP90, SP90, AHAP120, SP120, and P90P120). Based on N release characteristics, CRNFs were categorized into four release modes: pre-positioned single-peak (PrSRM), post-positioned single-peak (PoSRM), decreasing double-peak (DDRM), and increasing double-peak (IDRM). Synchronization between soil NH4+-N dynamics under CRNFs and plant N uptake rate (NUPR) under CK was quantified using dynamic time warping (DTW), with smaller values indicating higher synchrony. Results showed that single-peak release modes significantly reduced grain yield and NUP by 12.6% and 10.5%, respectively. The IDRM treatment, a blend of 90-d and 120-d polymer-coated urea, showed NH4+-N supply dynamics most closely matching the N demand of high-yielding rice, with lower two-year average DTW values (SSRDTW 1.01, NUPSDTW 1.72) than DDRM (1.03 and 2.00), which translated into increases in spikelet number, grain yield, and NUP by 4.49%, 6.03%, and 4.85%, respectively, while decreasing AV by 86.7% compared with CK. One-time application of IDRM fertilizer can align soil NH4+-N supply with rice N demand, ensure high yield, and reduce N losses, providing an optimized fertilization strategy for sustainable rice production in the Yangtze River Delta.

Rice productivity faces critical sustainability challenges from stagnating yields and inefficient fertilizer use, particularly in intensive agricultural regions like the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) of China. Controlled-release blended fertilizers (CRBF), which synchronize nutrient release with crop demand, represent a promising strategy to enhance rice productivity. Here, we conducted an eight-year (2017–2024) field study across 25 representative sites in the YRD to evaluate CRBF’s effects, complemented by a regional extrapolation analysis. Our findings showed that, relative to conventional fertilization, CRBF increased rice yield by 4.9%, primarily by increasing the number of effective panicles (5%) and plant biomass (5.2%–11.3%). Notably, this yield benefit rose to 5.3% when CRBF was applied via deep placement, which was attributed to greater root biomass (13.1%–29.2%) and higher soil NH4+-N availability (24.3%–43.6%), thereby enhancing N uptake. Furthermore, initial soil organic matter was identified as the predominant modulator of CRBF effectiveness. Regional extrapolation projected that applying CRBF could enhance rice yield by 4.0% across the YRD, with deep placement providing an additional 2.1% gain. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that adopting CRBF, particularly with deep placement, is a robust and effective strategy to sustainably boost rice productivity in intensive rice cultivation systems.

A significant legume crop in Ethiopia, chickpeas ( Cicer arietinum L .) have several advantages, including high nutritional value and the capacity to improve soils deficient in nitrogen through biological nitrogen fixation using several endosymbiotic Mesorhizobium spp. strains. However, the host variety, the soil’s capacity to hold nutrients, and the endosymbiont’s innate physiological traits all affect how efficient the strains are. The primary obstacles to its cultivation in the research area are inadequate agronomic methods and low soil fertility [low nitrogen (N), low soil organic matter (OM), low accessible phosphorous (P), sulfur (S), and boron (B)], which results in ineffective nodulation. To evaluate the effects of NPSB fertilization and inoculation, a field experiment was carried out in Buchach Kebele’s Cheha area during the primary cropping season of 2021/22. The trial included two chickpea kinds (Local and Arerti), two NPSB levels (zero and 121 kg NPSB ha -1 ), and four levels of Mesorhizobium strains (CP-M41, CP-EAL 029, CP-M20b, and un-inoculated control). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used to organize the treatments in a factorial form with three replications. In comparison to the single application and the control, the interaction impact of strains, NPSB fertilizer, and variety greatly increased nodulation parameters, growth parameters, yield, and yield components. The Arerti variety combined with the CP-M41 Mesorhizobium strain and NPSB fertilizer had the maximum grain production (3177.16 kg ha -1 ). It yielded 15.96%, 24.06%, and 37.93% more than the Arerti with CP-M41 strain, Arerti with NPSB, and the control treatments, respectively. The partial budget analysis of the study treatments showed that the Arerti variety with the combined application of 121 kg NPSB ha-1 and Mesorhizobium strain CP-M41 inoculation produced the highest net return (102,092.6 ETB ha -1 ) with an acceptable marginal rate of return (618%). It has been found that the CP-M41 strain and the Arerti variety, when combined with 121 kg NPSB ha -1 application, is a suitable treatment combination to achieve increased chickpea crop yield and profit in the studied area. However, the results need further validation in the farmer’s field before recommending to farmers.

The 4R stewardship framework (right source, right rate, right time, and right place) is widely promoted to improve fertilizer use efficiency and sustainability in agriculture. However, within this framework, fertilizer form (i.e., the physical and chemical expression of the nutrient source) remains poorly conceptualized and inconsistently evaluated in the literature. Existing studies largely emphasize application rate, timing, and placement, while evidence on how fertilizer form governs nutrient-use efficiency (NUE), nutrient losses, and soil–plant–biological interactions remains fragmented and context-dependent. As a result, fertilizer form is often treated as a logistical input rather than a central management variable. The objective of this comprehensive review is to synthesize global evidence on how fertilizer form shapes NUE, soil chemical and biological processes, and diagnostics-driven nutrient management across cropping systems and agroecological conditions. Evidence shows that deep-placed urea and enhanced-efficiency fertilizers significantly reduce ammonia (NH 3 ) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions under flooded or alkaline conditions. At the same time, monoammonium phosphate (MAP) enhances phosphorus (P) recovery compared with diammonium phosphate (DAP) in acidic or heterogeneous soils. Sulfate-based potassium fertilizers improve crop quality and reduce chloride-related stress compared with muriate of potash (MOP). In contrast, coated or organo-mineral fertilizers generally stimulate microbial activity relative to highly soluble formulations. Emerging diagnostic approaches, including mid-infrared and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy integrated with tissue testing and on-farm trials, show promise for guiding fertilizer-form selection. However, their widespread field validation remains limited. Despite the growing adoption of advanced fertilizer forms, comparative evaluations across diverse environments remain scarce. The review highlights diagnostics and long-term field experimentation as critical priorities for advancing fertilizer-form decisions within the 4R framework.