Chemical fertilizers are commonly used to meet the nutritional demands of crops and boost their yields. However, their high costs and excessive application in soils increase the cost of production and have negative effects on the soil and environmental health. Vermicompost is an organic amendment that can potentially lessen the dependence on chemical fertilizers, with the additional advantages of sustainable nutrient supply to crops and maintaining soil health. To evaluate the potential of the two diverse vermicompost, the sole and combined applications of these vermicompost with reduced rates of chemical fertilizers were used for tomato cultivation in a field study. The results indicated that vermicompost produced from cattle manure combined with chemical fertilizers was more effective in improving tomato growth, physiology, yield, and nutritional attributes. Compared to the control treatment (NP applied), the combined application of vermicompost and chemical fertilizer significantly improved the root length (21.6%), plant height (167%), SPAD value (13.5%), chlorophyll ‘a’ (96%), chlorophyll ‘b’ (161%), relative water content (16%), membrane stability index (18%), carotenoid (87%), yield (82%), photosynthetic rate (148%), fruit diameter (83%), protein (89%), fat (27.5%), fiber (12%), vitamin C (52%), calcium (54%), magnesium (117%), phosphorus (38%) and potassium (128%). In addition, significant improvements in different soil physicochemical properties were also pragmatic. The results suggest that vermicompost application with reduced doses of chemical fertilizers can be used to improve crop yield and soil physico-chemical properties.

The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the approaches and methods used to assess the dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM). This included identifying relevant processes that describe and estimate SOM decomposition, lability, and humification for the purpose of sustainable management. Various existing techniques and models for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of SOM were evaluated to gain a better understanding of advances in organic matter transformation. This evaluation aimed to identify the strengths, limitations, and applications of these techniques and models, and to highlight new research directions in the field. Quantitative analysis of SOM can be performed using various parameters, including oxidation kinetics, lability, carbon management index, humification degree, humification index, and humification ratio. On the other hand, qualitative evaluation of SOM can involve techniques such as oxidizability, high-performance size-exclusion chromatography, electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, visual examination, smell, assessment of microorganism content, plant growth, cation exchange capacity, type of organic material, and decomposition. These techniques and parameters provide valuable insights into the characteristics and transformation of SOM, enabling a comprehensive understanding of its dynamics. Evaluating SOM dynamics is of utmost importance as it is a determining factor for soil health, fertility, organic matter stability, and sustainability. Therefore, developing SOM models and other assessment techniques based on soil properties, environmental factors, and management practices can serve as a tool for sustainable management. Long-term or extensive short-term experimental data should be used for modeling to obtain reliable results, especially for quantitative SOM transformation analysis, and changes in the quality and quantity of SOM should be considered when developing sustainable soil management strategies.

Organic agriculture is gaining prominence nowadays; however, the quantity and quality of organic products are still a matter of discussion, and various methods are being tested to fill these gaps. A three-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of winter wheat varieties and their mixtures in grain yield and quality. Four single croppings of winter wheat cultivars and eight mixed cropping systems sown with mixed or alternative rows of two cultivars were compared. There was no significant difference between different mixtures with regard to grain yield, but the protein content (PC) was increased in the mixture for a low-quality variety, such as Vanessa. The highest wet gluten (WG) (18%) and falling number (FN) (268 s) were obtained in Butterfly-Lorien and Butterfly-Vanessa, respectively. Water absorption (WA) in Butterfly solely and all of its combinations showed the best results. The Illusion-Vanessa mixture showed the highest stability (7.19 min). The difference in the sowing method in mixtures did not influence the grain yield and grain quality, except for the dough stability. The potential for grain quality improvement elucidated in this study may apply to further research; however, one needs to consider if it depends on greater wheat variety, input materials, and their interaction, simultaneously with the expected overall benefits from this approach.

Carrot cultivation in south-eastern Nigeria could reduce the need to transport carrots from northern regions. To explore this, a field experiment with three replications was carried out in Nsukka, south-eastern Nigeria, focusing on four carrot varieties (Carotte Touchon, Touchon Mega, Super Mega, and Touchon France) and three poultry manure rates (0, 10, and 20 t ha⁻¹). The study revealed that Carotte Touchon had the highest root production (11.6 t ha⁻¹) with 20 t ha⁻¹ of manure, followed by 7.5 t ha⁻¹ at 10 t ha⁻¹, while Touchon Mega had the lowest root yield (1.4 t ha⁻¹) in the control group. Proximate quality of carrots was mostly unaffected by the varieties, except for fat content. The study found significant variations in vitamins A, C, and E, phytochemicals (phytate, tannins, and oxalate), and minerals (Fe, Mg, Na, and K) among the varieties, although no impact on Zn and Ca was observed. This research suggests that carrots have substantial growth potential in south-eastern Nigeria, offering a solution to vitamin and mineral deficiencies prevalent in this area. Additionally, Carotte Touchon with either 20 t ha⁻¹ or 10 t ha⁻¹ of poultry manure is recommended for optimal carrot cultivation in this region.