https://agriculture.researchfloor.org Thu, 03 Sep 2026 16:34:50 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://agriculture.researchfloor.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/cropped-cropped-Untitled-45-1-32x32.png https://agriculture.researchfloor.org 32 32 https://agriculture.researchfloor.org/optimizing-sunflower-productivity-through-combined-organic-amendments-a-sustainable-alternative-to-mineral-fertilization-in-tropical-soil/ Wed, 13 May 2026 07:16:00 +0000 admin https://agriculture.researchfloor.org/?p=22 Tropical soils often suffer from rapid organic matter depletion and declining fertility, leading many farmers to rely heavily on mineral fertilizers. While effective in the short term, these inputs are costly, environmentally damaging, and increasingly unsustainable. This study evaluated whether combining two locally available organic amendments, cow dung compost and plantain peel biochar, could offer a more sustainable pathway to improve sunflower (Helianthus annuus) productivity in a tropical savanna soil in Dang locality, (Ngaoundere, Cameroon). A randomized complete block design with nine treatments, including unfertilized plots and varying combinations of compost and biochar, was established under field conditions. Soil, compost, and biochar were chemically characterized prior to application. Germination rate, Plant growth parameters (leaf number, and leaf area), phenological traits (days to flowering), and yield components (seed weight and yield per hectare) were monitored. Both biochar and the local soil were alkaline, while the compost was slightly acidic and exceptionally rich in organic matter. The combined application of compost and biochar significantly enhanced vegetative growth, stimulated flowering, and improved overall productivity. Amended plant with 500 g of compost combined with 20 g of biochar per plant (the most promising fertilizer) produced the highest seed yield (2.74 t/ha), markedly outperforming the control (1.90t/ha) and chemical fertilizer (2.10t/ha). These results demonstrate that combining cow dung compost and plantain peel biochar may improves sunflower yield by 44% and 30% respectively in comparison with control and NPK chemical fertilizer application, and also soil health, offering a sustainable alternative to mineral fertilizers for tropical smallholder farming systems. https://agriculture.researchfloor.org/optimizing-sunflower-productivity-through-combined-organic-amendments-a-sustainable-alternative-to-mineral-fertilization-in-tropical-soil/ 8-4-4 Abiotic stress acacia Adoption agricultural challenges Agricultural Policy Agricultural productivity Agriculture Agriculture Origins Agro-biodiversity agroclimatic zones Agronomic bio-fortification agronomic potential Alienation Alkaloids Aluminium anaerobes analysis Ananas comosus anticancer antimicrobial resistance antioxidant Antioxidants Apple plants attitude Average daily gain Ayurveda Bemisia tabaci Benisuif-5 durum wheat Bio-stimulant Bioactive Compounds Biochar Biofertilizer Biofuel Biological control biological corridors Bombyx Mori Bottled water breeding strategies browse fodders cashew Cassava peel residues Cassava production cereals Challenges chemical composition Chemical control climate resilience cocoa value chain Commercial salt lick Competency-based curriculum Complementary food Compost conservation Conservation agriculture constraints Contingent Valuation Cow’s milk butter Cowpea CRISPR-Cas9 crop crop diversification crop management Crop productivity crop resilience Cropping pattern Cropping sequence cucurbitaceous vegetables curcumin damage Disease Prevention disease resistance Documentation Doyogena sheep Drought tolerance drying methods durum wheat farming EBB & flow system economic impact Efficiencies Endocrine-disrupting chemicals endogenous switching regression energy input energy output energy profitability Ensete ventricosum environmental management environmental resilience environmental resources Environmental stress epidemiology Erythrina burucci Essential minerals essential oils ethanol Evolutionary Significance export potential Farm households Farmer Prosperity Feed intake Finger millet Fisheries Flora Food Food production Food safety food security GC-MS GDP Gene expression Gene regulation genetic basis genetic diversity Genetic Symphony genome editing genotype germination germplasm collection GIS global agriculture Glycosides Gossypium hirsutum Grafting Grafting techniques Grain yield Groundnut growth Handling practices harvest health risk assessment Heart Rate Heavy metals Helicorvepa armigera heritage rice Heterosis Hidden hunger holistic approach Honey Horticultural challenges Horticultural transformation horticulture host plant resistance HR-LCMS profiling HUE Human Health Human health risk hybrid vigor Hydrolysis Hydroponics impact in vitro culture Income Enhancement Indian population Indigenous knowledge information technology innovation techniques Inoculation Integrated farming system Integrated Farming Systems irrigation Jammu and Kashmir Kalanamak rice Knowledge Law livelihood Livelihood Diversification Livestock maize maize farming malnutrition management management strategies marker-assisted selection Marketing mastofauna Mealybug Mean Willingness to pay Medicinal plants Microbial stability Micronutrient microRNA millets Modern Agricultural Landscapes modern agriculture Molar ratio Molecular Breeding molecular markers monsoon Morus sp multi-criteria evaluation NaCl. 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