Articles

Comparative Effects of Two Organic Fertilizers, Inorganic Fertilizer, and Their Integrated Application on Growth and Yield of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at Kabul Condition

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The sustainable management of soil fertility is essential for improving common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity under the semi-arid conditions of Afghanistan. This study evaluated the comparative effects of two organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizer (NPK), and their integrated application on the growth and yield performance of common bean during the 2025 growing season at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kabul University. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six fertilizer treatments and three replications. Growth traits, yield components, grain yield, biological yield, and harvest index were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and treatment means were separated by Tukey’s HSD test at the 5% probability level. Fertilizer treatments significantly influenced most growth and yield parameters. The integrated application of 50% OF-1 + 50% NPK (T5) consistently produced superior plant growth, increased yield components, and achieved the highest grain yield, biological yield, and harvest index compared with the sole application of organic or inorganic fertilizers and the unfertilized control. The improved performance of the integrated treatment was attributed to enhanced nutrient availability and more efficient nutrient utilization throughout the crop growth period. These findings demonstrate that integrated nutrient management is a sustainable and effective strategy for increasing common bean productivity under semi-arid agroecological conditions. Future studies should evaluate long-term effects of integrated nutrient management under diverse agroecological conditions.

Factors Regulating Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Efficiency in Legume Crops: Mechanisms, Environmental Constraints, and Future Perspectives

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Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is a fundamental biological process that enhances legume productivity while reducing dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. However, its efficiency varies considerably across production systems because it is regulated by complex interactions among plant genetics, rhizobial compatibility, physiological processes, environmental conditions, and agronomic management. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the mechanisms regulating SNF and critically examines the biological, environmental, and management factors that determine its effectiveness. The review integrates evidence from the literature on the molecular basis of legume–rhizobium symbiosis, physiological regulation of nitrogen fixation, the influence of soil properties, nutrient availability, climatic stresses, and agronomic practices, and evaluates emerging technologies and future research directions. The synthesis demonstrates that SNF performance is inherently context-dependent and cannot be optimized through a single intervention. Instead, successful nitrogen fixation requires coordinated management of host genotype, rhizobial inoculants, soil fertility, water availability, and crop management while accounting for local environmental conditions. The review also identifies important knowledge gaps, including limited long-term field validation, insufficient integration of multidisciplinary approaches, and challenges in translating emerging genomic, microbial, and precision agriculture technologies into practical farming systems. Overall, this review emphasizes that integrated, site-specific management combined with continued advances in biofertilizer development and multidisciplinary research is essential for maximizing SNF efficiency, reducing reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, and supporting sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural production.

Organic vs. Inorganic Fertilizers: A Review on Sustainable Mung Bean Production under Kabul Semi‑Arid Conditions

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Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) is a short‑duration legume of high nutritional and agronomic importance, particularly suited to semi‑arid regions such as Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite its potential, mung bean productivity in Afghanistan remains below global averages, constrained by poor soil fertility, limited varietal development, and inadequate crop management practices. This review synthesizes Kabul University research and global literature, focusing on the comparative impacts of organic and inorganic fertilizer practices on mung bean yield attributes. Organic fertilizers such as farmyard manure, compost, and humic‑acid enriched biomass enhance soil structure, microbial activity, and long‑term fertility, whereas inorganic fertilizers supply rapid nutrient availability but risk soil degradation if used exclusively. Evidence from Kabul trials demonstrated that humic‑acid enriched organic fertilizer (OF2) produced superior plant height, grain number per pod, seed yield, and biological yield compared to NPK and control treatments, underscoring its relevance for semi‑arid Kabul conditions. Integrated nutrient management (INM), combining organic and inorganic inputs, offers synergistic benefits by balancing productivity with sustainability. However, adoption in Afghanistan is constrained by economic limitations, weak extension services, and limited varietal testing. This review concludes that INM represents the most sustainable pathway for mung bean cultivation in Kabul’s semi‑arid environment, while highlighting research gaps in varietal response, soil fertility restoration, and farmer adoption strategies.

Review of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer Practices in Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) under Kabul Climatic Conditions

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Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) is a short-duration pulse crop of global importance, valued for its nutritional quality, nitrogen-fixing ability, and adaptability to semi-arid climates. In Afghanistan, particularly under Kabul agro-climatic conditions, productivity remains below global averages due to poor soil fertility, limited access to improved varieties, and inadequate nutrient management. This review synthesizes recent evidence (2022–2026) on organic and inorganic fertilizer practices in mung bean cultivation. Organic amendments such as poultry manure at higher application rates (8–10 t ha⁻¹) significantly enhance vegetative growth, pod formation, and grain yield [1,2,4]. Inorganic NPK fertilizers provide immediate nutrient availability but risk long-term soil degradation if applied alone [3,6]. Integrated nutrient management (INM), combining mineral fertilizers with organic inputs, improves soil fertility, microbial activity, and sustainability, offering superior productivity outcomes [7,11,12]. Improved varieties such as Enam demonstrate positive responses under INM strategies, underscoring the importance of genotype × environment × management interactions [2,5,9]. Recent studies highlight biofertilizers and micronutrient supplementation as promising approaches to further enhance nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and seed quality [3,8,10]. Key research gaps remain in varietal performance, soil fertility constraints, and region-specific INM practices. Adoption of integrated fertilizer management can substantially improve mung bean productivity and soil health in Kabul and similar semi-arid regions, contributing to food security and sustainable agriculture.