Biochar is gaining importance due to its potential to enhance soil health, crop yield, and quality. It may also promote more sustainable farming methods. This study evaluated the combined effects of biochar, vermicompost, and inorganic fertilizers on soil characteristics, growth, and yield in wheat. Ten different treatments were applied to wheat (cultivar BARI Gom‐33). The tallest plants, highest total dry weight, and largest leaf area index were observed in plots where chemical fertilizers, rice husk biochar, poultry manure, and vermicompost were applied together. At harvest, the treatment containing 1/4 recommended fertilizer dose (RFD) + 1/4 poultry manure biochar + 1/4 rice husk biochar + 1/4 vermicompost produced the best yield and yield‐contributing factors. The combination of biochar, vermicompost, and inorganic fertilizers increased grain production by 43.23%–79.48% compared with the control. These treatments also improved soil health by increasing available phosphorus, organic matter, carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio, and organic carbon. In conclusion, the combined application of 1/4 RFD, 1/4 poultry manure biochar, 1/4 rice husk biochar, and 1/4 vermicompost can replace the sole use of chemical fertilizers and serve as a key component for sustainable crop production.

Several factors influence the quality of melon fruits and foliar fertilizer application is one method for improving their quality. The objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the response of commercial melon varieties to a soilless culture system in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand, and (2) to evaluate the quality of melon fruit under various foliar fertilizer treatments. The experiment was arranged as a completely randomized block design with four replications. Eight commercial melon varieties, including four orange pulp melons (Sandee, Baramee, Sanwan, and Melon cat 697) and four green pulp melons (Kissme, Snowgreen, Melon Princess, and Kimoji), were used in this study. At 1–5 weeks after planting, the growth of the melons was measured using agronomic traits. Four foliar fertilizers (distilled water, micronutrients, secondary nutrients + micronutrients, and amino acid + micronutrients) were sprayed on the melon leaves at 1–5 weeks after pollination, and the growth of the melons, using fruit traits, was recorded. After harvesting, the melons were assessed for the quality of the fruit. This study was conducted at the School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry’s greenhouse and the Food Chemistry Laboratory of the Center for Scientific and Technological Equipment, Walailak University. In nearly all of the observed growth weeks, the data demonstrate that most agronomic and fruit traits were significantly different between the melon varieties. Sandee, Baramee, Melon cat 697, and Melon Princess are recommended for planting under Nakhon Si Thammarat’s climate, based on fruit size and quality. Foliar fertilizer application impacted the shape, skin color, and quality of the melon. Melons treated with micronutrients, secondary nutrients and micronutrients, and amino acids and micronutrients exhibited better measures of fruit quality than those treated with non-foliar treatments. There was also an interaction observed between melon variety and foliar fertilizer application. Based on measures of fruit quality, Baramee, Melon cat 697, Kissme, and Melon Princess were more responsive to foliar fertilizer application than other melon varieties tested.

In the selection phase of melon breeding programs, genetic variability is a critical component for yield improvement. The goals of this study were to discover the variables that affect melon fruit weight and examine genetic variability, correlation, and path analysis of eight melon varieties. The experiment was arranged as a completely randomized block design with 4 blocks. It was conducted between July and September 2021 at the School of Agricultural Technology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. The result found that stem diameter and length, leaf length, width, number, and chlorophyll, day to 50 male and female flowering, and fruit perimeter, height, and weight were highly significant across the varieties. The genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) of observed variables were all lower than phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV). Fruit weight (15.462 and 19.865) had the highest GCV and PCV. High broad-sense heritability was linked to high (H) or moderate (M) genetic advance as a percentage of the mean from stem length (67.606: H and 21.992: H), fruit weight (60.586: H and 24.793: H), fruit perimeter (76.395: H and 12.258: M), and fruit height (69.828: H and 12.122: M). The maximum and significant genotypic correlation value was obtained between leaf length and leaf width (r=1.000). Fruit weight is positively correlated with fruit perimeter (r=0.940) and fruit height (r=0.831). According to correlation and path analyses, stem diameter and length, leaf chlorophyll, and fruit perimeter and height were considered variables for fruit weight improvement in the breeding programs. It suggests that the increase in traits with a favorable direct influence on fruit weight may directly contribute to fruit weight.

Background: Tenera oil palm is widely planted as a commercial plantation crop throughout Southern Thailand. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phenotypic correlation and the direct and indirect effects among bunch yields and vegetative characteristics in commercial tenera oil palms. Methods: The oil yield, fresh fruit bunch, bunch number, average bunch weight, leaf area, leaf dry weight and rachis length were recorded from six commercial tenera oil palm progenies. The data were recorded between January 2019 and June 2020 at The Chaipattana Foundation’s oil palm plantation in Trang Province, Thailand. Result: Results show that fresh fruit bunch, average bunch weight and rachis length positively correlated with oil yield (rp = 0.90**, 0.50* and 0.53, respectively), while bunch number and rachis length positively correlated with fresh fruit bunch (rp = 0.58* and 0.47*, respectively). The path analysis shows that bunch number significantly correlated with fresh fruit bunch (0.58*) and strongly directly affected it (1.11). The fresh fruit bunch significantly correlated with oil yield, (0.90**) and had a strong direct (2.08) and indirect effect (1.20). These results indicate that bunch number and fresh fruit bunch are useful variables for oil yield improvement in further breeding programs of oil palm.

Background: Sunflower is an economically important and the fourth most valuable oil seed crop. The study aimed to investigate organic fertilizers as an alternative method of enhancing soil quality and to determine the optimal combination of organic fertilizer treatments for sunflower growth performance and yield. Methods: The sunflower variety BARI Surjamukhi-2 was used in this study. The treatments were applied as T1= Control; T2= Farmyard Manure @ 2 t ha-1; T3= Vermicompost @2 t ha-1; T4= Biochar @2 t ha-1; T5= Farmyard Manure @1 t ha-1+Vermicompost @ 1 t ha-1; T6= Farmyard Manure @1 t ha-1+Biochar @1 t ha-1 and T7= Vermicompost @ 1 t ha-1+Biochar @1 t ha-1. Result: The data showed that application of different organic fertilizer treatments improves soil quality. Organic fertilizer addition had a positive effect on the growth traits like plant height, leaves number plant-1, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, head diameter, fresh and dry seed number head-1, 1,000-seed weight and seed yield. The correlation results strongly agreed that chlorophyll content, fresh seed number, head diameter plant-1 and 1,000-seed weight could be considered as selection indices for high yield of sunflower. This demonstrates the organic fertilizer’s capacity to improve sunflower growth and yield, as well as its significant potential to replace chemical fertilizers in the perspective of crop sustainability.

Background: Intercropping is wildly practiced in oil palm plantation in Thailand for a long time. However, there are few studies connected to oil palm intercropping. This study evaluated the effects of perennial intercrops on the agronomic and yield traits of oil palm.Methods: The observation used a completely randomized design with eight treatments including oil palm monocropping, oil palm intercropped with Intsia palembanica, Hopea odorata, Swietenia macrophylla, Ternstroemia wallichiana, Azardirachta excelsa, Magnolia champaca and Mesua ferrea. The height and stem perimeter of intercrops were recorded as were the plant height and diameter, number of male and female inflorescences and sex ratio of the oil palms. Those parameters were observed in October 2019, February and June 2020.Result: Oil palm intercropped with A. excelsa produced the highest number of female inflorescences and oil palm intercropped with M. champaca produced the highest sex ratio in October 2019 and February 2020, however, the differences of those parameters were not found in June 2020. There were no significant differences in the diameter, height, the number of male inflorescences throughout the observation. Among the 7 intercrops, M. champaca and A. excelsa produced the highest growth rate of plant height and stem perimeter, respectively. In conclusion, oil palm can be intercropped with perennial plants. However, more research is needed to determine the long-term effects of intercropping in oil palm.