Appropriate foliar application of zinc (Zn) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) is important for the proper growth and yield of tomato. However, the effects of foliar application of Zn and ZnO-NPs were not well-studied on tomato production. A pot experiment was conducted at glasshouse (8D) conditions under the Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to evaluate the effectiveness of Zn and ZnO-NPs on growth, yield, nutrient uptake, and fruit quality of tomatoes and to compare between the Zn nutrient and ZnO-NPs. Treatment combinations were 14 viz. T₁ = 0 (control), T₂ = 1500 ppm (mg/L) Zn nutrient, T₃ = 2000 ppm (mg/L) Zn nutrient, T₄ = 2500 ppm (mg/L) Zn nutrient, T₅ = 75 ppm ZnO nanoparticle, T₆ = 100 ppm ZnO nanoparticle, and T₇ = 125 ppm ZnO nanoparticle along with two tomato varieties. The experimental design was a split plot with four replications. Results indicated that foliar application of 100 ppm ZnO-NPs performed best in terms of growth parameters, physiological traits, yield attributes, yield, and quality traits of tomatoes. The same treatment (100 ppm ZnO-NPs) contributed to attain the highest nutrient uptake. Recovery use efficiency of Zn was highest with foliar application of 75 ppm ZnO-NPs. The highest yield increment (200%) over control was from foliar sprayed with 100 ppm ZnO-NPs. Comparing the two varieties, MARDI Tomato-3 (MT3) showed better than MARDI Tomato-1 (MT1). As is appears from the results, foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles was more efficient than conventional zinc fertilizer. Therefore, the foliar sprayed with 100 ppm ZnO-NPs can be suggested to improve quantity and quality of tomato in glasshouse soil conditions.

Salinity affects and limits the yield potential of pulse crops. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the salinity-induced physiological response of field peas by estimating the germination rate (%), accumulation of biomass, relative water content, and seedling vigor and salt tolerance index. The treatments included four salinity levels (NaCl) (i.e., 0 (control), 8, 12, and 16 dS m⁻¹, respectively) and eight field pea genotypes (i.e., BD4175, BD4182, BD4225, BD6944, BD4176, BD4193, BD4493, and BD4496). All treatments were arranged in a factorial completely randomized design and repeated four times. Results indicated that the percentage and rate of germination, percentage reduction of fresh and dry weight, relative water content, seedling vigor index, and salt tolerant index of all genotypes of field peas were influenced significantly by the different levels of salinity. The radicle and plumule of all field pea genotypes were damaged by applying 12 and 16 dS m⁻¹ salt stress. However, among these eight pea genotypes, two genotypes, namely BD4175 and BD4225, performed better under the 8 dS m⁻¹ level of salinity and these two genotypes may be recommended for cultivation in field conditions of saline coastal areas of Bangladesh, and can also be used in future breeding programs for the development of salt-tolerant pea cultivars.

Growing vegetables can be seen as a means of improving people’s livelihoods and nutritional status. Tomatoes are one of the world’s most commonly planted vegetable crops. The nutritional arrangement of the tomato depends on the quantity and type of nutrients taken from the growing medium, such assoil and foliar application; therefore, an adequate amount of macro- and micro-nutrients, including zinc (Zn) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), are crucial for tomato production. Zinc foliar spraying is one of the effective procedures that may improve crop quality and yield. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are represented as a biosafety concern for biological materials. Foliar application of Zn showed better results in increasing soluble solids(TSS), firmness, titratable acidity, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, ascorbic acid, amount of lycopene. Researchers have observed the effect of nanoparticles of zinc oxide on various crops, including tomatoes. Foliar spraying of ZnO-NPs gave the most influential results in terms of best planting parameters, namely plant height, early flowering, fruit yields as well as lycopene content. Therefore, more attention should be given to improving quantity and quality as well as nutrient use efficiency of Zn and ZnO-NPs in tomato production. Recent information on the effect of zinc nutrient foliar spraying and ZnO-NPs as a nano fertilizer on tomato productivity is reviewed in this article.

Efficient nutrient management is crucial for profitable strawberry production. This study investigated the practical consequences of organic and inorganic fertilization strategies, assessing their influence on yield, fruit quality, nutrient uptake and efficiency and economic viability for the production of strawberry. Field experiments were conducted at the Horticulture Research Centre, BARI, Gazipur, Bangladesh, from 2019 to 20 to 2020-2021. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with eight treatments replicated three times. The treatments included the following: T₁: control; T₂: recommended dose of inorganic N-P-K-S-Zn-B at 140-40-110-20-3-2 kg ha^-1; T₃: 3 t ha^-1 vermicompost (VC) + 125% of NPKSZnB; T₄: 3 t ha^-1 poultry manure (PM) + 125% of NPKSZnB; T₅: 3 t ha^-1 cowdung (CD) + 125% of NPKSZnB; T₆: 3 t ha^-1 VC + 75% of NPKSZnB; T₇: 3 t ha^-1 PM + 75% of NPKSZnB; and T₈: 3 t ha^-1 CD + 75% of NPKSZnB. Treatment T₄ resulted in the highest strawberry yield (10.9 t ha^-1) because of the greater number of fruits per plant (17.7), greater fruit size (length of 4.63 cm and diameter of 3.15 cm) and greater number of fruits (17.5 g). The highest amount of vitamin C (63.2 mg/100 g) and protein (22.0%) was also found in the T₄ treatment. T₄ maximized nutrient uptake and acquisition. While nutrient uptake improved under integrated treatments, the apparent recovery efficiencies of N, P, K, S, Zn, and B varied considerably across treatments, with no consistent pattern observed. T₄ increased economic returns (US$ 7611) and improved soil health. A positive correlation was observed between growth, productivity and nutrient uptake. The results suggest that the combined application of 3 t ha^-1 poultry manure with 125% of the recommended amount of NPKSZnB fertilizer can increase strawberry productivity and quality. This approach has also promoted sustainable soil health and environmental benefits.

The yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is low due to incorrect or use of no magnesium (Mg). An experiment was conducted from October to March 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 to determine the effective dose of Mg to improve yield and quality, and assess nutrient uptake and use efficiency of tomato. Treatments were magnesium at 0 (control), 4, 8, 12, or 16 kg·ha⁻¹. Application of 12 kg·ha⁻¹ Mg produced the most fruit per plant (41.1), heaviest fruit (74.3 g), and greatest fruit yield (69.7 t∙ha⁻¹). Vitamin C content in fruit was best (39.6 mg/100 g) with application of 12 kg·ha⁻¹ Mg. The same treatment had the highest β-carotene (26.1 µg·g⁻¹), improved fruit firmness (1.06 kilogram-force), and had better protein content (18.8%) in mature tomato fruit. Uptake of nutrients was best with 12 kg·ha⁻¹ Mg. Recovery use efficiency of Mg was highest with 8 kg·ha⁻¹ Mg. The best gross margin (48.6%) and benefit-cost ratio (3.11) was with 12 kg·ha⁻¹ Mg. Application of 12 kg·ha⁻¹ Mg appears to improve the quantity, quality, and economics of tomatoes. Regression analysis indicated application of Mg @ 11.3 kg·ha⁻¹ could be optimum to improve the yield of tomatoes under controlled field conditions.