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Intercropping Moldavian balm with mung bean is an ecological approach for improving resource productivity. A field experiment was conducted over two growing seasons (2018 and 2019) to determine the effect of fertilizer application on yield and essential oil (EO) productivity of Moldavian balm intercropped with mung bean. The experiment had a two‐factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The first factor comprised of five cropping patterns: Moldavian balm sole crop (MBs), mung bean sole crop (MGs), one row each of Moldavian balm +mung bean (1MB:1MG), two rows each of Moldavian balm +mung bean (2MB:2MG), and three rows of Moldavian balm +two rows of mung bean (3MB:2MG). The second factor comprised four fertilizer sources: no fertilizer application (C, control), 100% chemical fertilizer (NPK), 50% chemical fertilizer +100% bacterial fertilizer (NPK+BF), and 100% bacterial fertilizer +100% mycorrhizal fungi (BF+MF). The sole crop fertilized with NPK+BF produced the highest seed yields for MG (1189 kg/ha) and MB (7027 kg/ha), while 3MB:2MG fertilized with NPK+BF had the highest nutrient contents. Moldavian balm produced the highest EO content and yield in 2MB:2MG fertilized with NPK+BF. The EO of MB mainly comprised geranyl acetate (30–39%), geranial (20–31%), neral (18–24%), and geraniol (3–8%). In addition, the 3MB:2MG intercropping treatment fertilized with NPK+BF had the highest land equivalent ratio (LER = 1.35). We recommend an intercropping ratio of 2MB:2MG fertilized with NPK+BF is recommended as an alternative and eco‐friendly strategy for farmers to improve EO quantity and quality.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of nitrogen (N) forms: ammonium, nitrate, and urea on maize performance, N uptake and use efficiency, and the grain protein content. The experiment was laid out as a split-plot with the whole plot factor being the three fertilizer treatments and the subplot being four N levels (0, 25, 50, and 100 kg N ha −1 ) with three replicates. Plant tissues were analyzed for total N uptake. Grain and stover yields and grain protein were determined at maturity. The highest (62 cm) plant height (at the vegetative stage) was recorded in nitrate treatment. Grain yield was highest (2.9 t ha −1 ) in plots that received nitrate. Fertilization with nitrate enhanced grain protein more (11.6%) than when urea or ammonium was used. N uptake was highest (42 kg N ha −1 ) under ammonium treatment, intermediate (22 kg N ha −1 ) in those treated with nitrate, and lowest (21 kg N ha −1 ) in urea-receiving plots. Application of 25 kg N ha −1 resulted in the least N uptake efficiency with optimal values registered at 50 kg N ha −1 . Agronomic N use efficiency differed among the rates with values ranging from 44 to 183 t ha −1 per N kg ha −1 applied in the order of 25 < 50 < 100 kg N ha −1 . This study showed that for optimal growth, productivity, and nutritional benefits, maize ought to be grown using nitrate N form at the rate of 50 kg N ha −1 .Keywords Nitrogen (N) fertilizer sources . N forms . N use efficiency indices . Grain protein content * Harun I. Gitari