Crop production encounters challenges due to the dearth of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), while excessive use of chemical fertilizers causes environmental hazards. Use of rhizobium and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) can be a sustainable strategy to overcome these problems. Hence, a pot experiment was conducted following a completely randomized design to explore the impact of nitrogen fixing bacteria and PSB on the growth, yield, and quality attributes of soybean alongside soil nutrient availability using Rhizobium japonicum and Pseudomonas striata. The experiment consisted of two factors—R. japonicum (100% N, R. japonicum alone or with 50% N and control) and P. striata (100% P, only P. striata or with 75% P and control). Results revealed a significant influence of interaction on seed N, yield, protein, oil, and nodules of soybean. Microbial inoculants with or without N and P fertilizers produced a statistically similar yield as 100% N and P. Furthermore, R. japonicum and P. striata along with 50% N and 75% P increased 7% protein and 19% oil than 100% N and P. R. japonicum enhanced soil N content and P. striata improved soil phosphorus availability. Overall, R. japonicum and P. striata inoculation with 50% N and 75% P can potentially improve the yield and the quality of soybean and soil nutrient conditions.

A field experiment on Potato-Boro-T. Aus-T. Aman cropping pattern was conducted in the High Ganges Floodplain Soil of Jashore (AEZ - 11) during 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 to find out optimum fertilizer management for intensive cropping attern, in relation to soil health.There were eight different treatments viz. T1=100% NPKSZnB (STB= Soil Test Based), T2=T1 + 25% N, T3=T1 + 25% NP, T4=T1 + 25% NK, T5=T1 + 25% PK, T6=T1 + 25% NPK, T7=75% of T1, and T8=Native fertility (control) as individual crop management. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results revealed that the tuber yield of potato, grain yields of boro, T. Aus and T. Aman were significantly influenced by the fertilizer treatments. The maximum tuber yield (25.70 and 24.80 t ha-1), grain yields of boro (6.50 and 6.31 t ha-1), T. Aus (3.13 and 3.10 t ha-1) and T. Aman (3.95 and 3.98 t ha-1) was obtained from the T6 treatment where 25% additional NPK was added with 100% STB in both the year. These yields weretatistically similar with that produced by all other fertilizer treatments except the native fertility treatment. Highest rice equivalent yield (REY) of 12.63 t ha-1 was obtained from T6 treatment whereas lowest REY of 5.93 t ha-1 was obtained from control. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2019, 22(1): 71-78

To ensure both food and nutritional security of teeming millions of Bangladesh, cropping intensity must be increased along with nutritional food production. Mungbean, which is an important source of protein, can easily cope with the intensive cropping system due to short duration. But sometimes, to obtain maximum productivity per unit area in a calendar year, mungbean cannot be sown in optimum time. Considering this, a field study was carried out at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University to explore the effect of additional potassium and boron application to increase the yield of late sown mungbean which was sown on 25 October. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications and five treatments. Results revealed that additional potassium and boron along with recommended fertilizer dose had significant influence on growth, yield and yield contributing characters of late sown mungbean. The growth and yield of late sown mungbean is hampered due to temperature stress which cannot be overcome by recommended dose only but can be by addition of extra potassium and boron with recommended dose. The highest seed yield (1.12 t ha-1) was obtained from recommended dose along with 10 Kg K and 2 Kg B ha-1 which was 40% higher than recommended dose only. Similar results were recorded for other parameters also. So, supplementation of recommended dose with 10 Kg K and 2 Kg B may be suggested to increase growth and yield of late sown mungbean.

A field trial on soil test based (STB) fertilizer doses was conducted during the year of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 in Jashore region (AEZ-11) to find out the most suitable fertilizer doses for four crop based cropping pattern considering the agronomic feasibility and economic return of the system. The experiment consisted of eight different treatments viz. T1: 100% NPKSZnB (STB), T2: T1 + 25% N, T3: T1 + 25% NP, T4: T1 + 25% NK, T5:T1 + 25% PK, T6:T1 + 25% NPK, T7: 75% of T1, T8: Native fertility. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was followed. Data revealed that seed yield of mustard was remarkably influenced by fertilizer treatments while grain yield of other components of the cropping system was not affected significantly by the treatments except control or native fertility. It was observed that 25% more NPK over 100% STB dose provided the highest yield of all the component crops. The highest rice equivalent yield (3.34 t ha-1) was recorded from T6 and the lowest (1.88 t ha-1) from T8 treatment. Maximum gross return (Tk. 420000/ha) and marginal benefit cost ratio (4.08) were also obtained from T6 treatment. So, 25% NPK+ 100% STB dose of fertilizer could be followed for productive and remunerative rice based cropping system Mustard-Boro-T. Aus-T.Aman in AEZ-11. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 109-117

The experiment was conducted in Boro season, 2020-21 to compare the performance of fortified rice variety BRRI dhan84 with non-fortified mega variety BRRI dhan89 and their suitable combinations for maximum growth and yield. Treatments were: two rice variety viz., i) BRRI dhan84 (V1) and ii) BRRI dhan89 (V2) in the main plot and seven different fertilizer management viz., i) No fertilizer (F1), ii) Recommended NPKS (RFD) with Zn as basal (F2), iii) RFD + Zn as foliar at anthesis (F3), iv) RFD + Zn & B as foliar at anthesis (F4), v) 50% RFD + 50% Cowdung as basal (F5), vi) 50% RFD + 50% Cowdung + Zn & B as basal (F6) and vii) 50% RFD + 50% Cowdung as basal + Zn & B as foliar at anthesis (F7) in the sub-plot. The experiment was laid out in a Split-plot design having 3 replications. No significant variations observed between the two varieties for almost all the studied characters except filled grains panicle-1 where the variety BRRI dhan89 showed higher number of grains (116.14) than the other variety. Foliar application of zinc and born (F4) gave the highest plant height (102.54 cm), effective tillers hill-1 (12.83) that similar (13.00) with F2 (recommended NPKS with Zn as basal), panicle length (25.91 cm), 1000-grain weight (23.58 g), grain yield (7.67 t ha-1), biological yield (14.85 t ha-1) and harvest index (51.69%). The interaction of V2F4 and V1F4 resulted superior response for almost all the studied parameters. Foliar application of zinc and boron (F4) along with RFD increased 8.79 and 27.45% yield in BRRI dhan89 compared to that of foliar (F3) and basal (F2) application of zinc, respectively that was 17.11 and 26.77% for the other rice variety BRRI dhan84. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2022, 25(1): 97-103