Work

Synergistic effects of urea, FYM and vermicompost regimes on vegetative growth, yield, soil fertility and rhizosphere microbiome of red dragon fruit

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on the growth, yield, and soil properties of dragon fruit ( Hylocereus costaricensis ). The primary objective was to identify the optimal combination of organic and inorganic nutrient sources for maximizing productivity while maintaining soil health. A field experiment was conducted during 2022–23 and 2023–24 at Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Nine treatments comprising different combinations of Urea, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), and vermicompost were evaluated under a randomized design. Growth parameters, yield attributes, and soil physicochemical and biological properties were recorded and analyzed. Among the treatments, T6 (50% recommended nitrogen through Urea, 25% through FYM, and 25% through vermicompost) resulted in the highest vegetative growth, including plant height (34.76 cm), stem diameter (0.71 cm), and canopy volume (1.78 m 3 ). The same treatment also recorded the maximum number of flowers (22.67), fruits per plant (18.17), and economic yield (6.88 kg plant −1 ). Regarding soil properties, T5 (75% N through Urea and 25% N through FYM) maintained the most favorable soil pH (7.04), whereas T6 significantly improved available soil nitrogen (246.79 kg ha −1 ), phosphorus (15.47 kg ha −1 ), and potassium (130.41 kg ha −1 ). Treatments based entirely on organic sources promoted the highest soil organic carbon (0.90%) and microbial populations, including Azotobacter , total bacteria, and fungi. The combined application of Urea, FYM, and vermicompost proved effective for enhancing dragon fruit productivity while sustaining soil fertility and biological health.

Source: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2026.1894414