Studies on Effect of Farm Yard Manure and Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) cv. G-363

This study was conducted during the winter season of 2020–2021 at the Research Farm of the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Plant Sciences, Afghanistan National Agriculture Science & Technology University (ANSTU) in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The experiment evaluated the response of garlic (Allium sativum L.) to different applications of NPK fertilizers and their combinations with farmyard manure (FYM) in terms of growth and yield. The experiment included nine treatments, each occupying an area of 2.25 m², arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Fertilizer treatments included applications of 160:80:80 kg/ha NPK and 140:70:70 kg/ha NPK, along with combinations of these with 10 t/ha and 15 t/ha of FYM. Data analyzed using SAS software revealed that both chemical fertilizers (NPK) and their combinations with FYM significantly influenced growth parameters and yield. The highest plant height (30.02 cm), bulb weight (40.71 g), and average yield (10.69 t/ha) were recorded in treatment T3 (FYM 15 t/ha + 160:80:80 kg/ha NPK). The maximum leaf length (25.19 cm) was observed in treatment T6 (FYM 10 t/ha + 160:80:80 kg/ha NPK). Growth data collected at different intervals (30, 50, 70, 90, and 110 days after sowing) indicated that the maximum leaf length (32.41 cm), number of leaves (8.69), and plant height (40.26 cm) were recorded at 110 days after sowing. Growth and yield parameters were also analyzed across three replications. Among these, replication one (R1) exhibited the best growth parameters, including a leaf length of 25.36 cm, number of leaves of 6.47, and plant height of 30.67 cm. Replication three (R3) showed the highest yield at 9.69 t/ha.