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By 2050, the global population is anticipated to reach 10 billion, marking a significant 34% increase and raising concerns regarding food availability. Challenges such as the recent pandemic, which led to workforce and input shortages in agriculture, have made it difficult for many countries to maintain adequate food self-sufficiency (SSL). It is crucial to explore various farming methods to ensure that food remains available and affordable, especially in urban areas where over 55% of the population resides. Traditional agriculture faces issues like poor soil and excessive fertilizer use, which harm the environment. These factors threaten sustainable agriculture and food security, particularly in urban environments. Adopting sustainable soilless technology can enhance urban agriculture by providing a controlled environment for producing healthy food and addressing these challenges post-pandemic. This review, utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, a widely recognized and rigorous method for conducting systematic reviews, focused on urban agriculture, specifically soilless technologies, as emerging trends in crop cultivation. It examined conventional and cutting-edge urban production systems aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and food security. The review examined soilless farming techniques such as aeroponics, hydroponics, and aquaponics, highlighting their environmental impact, resource efficiency, and water usage. It carefully considered the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies compared to conventional soil-based farming. Furthermore, the review showcased the successful cultivation of various fresh vegetables and fruits using soilless technologies, each with advantages supporting urban agriculture and overall food security. The findings suggest that these innovative strategies hold promise in fostering sustainable urban agriculture and ensuring food security during a pandemic. These

Background: Coconut coir dust (CD) is commonly used for growing selected fruit and vegetables. It is a soilless medium with excellent drainage and high-water holding capacity; free from infestations of weeds and pathogens. However, plant growth is adversely affected due to its high salinity, potassium and low pH. Methods: A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of different soilless media on rock melon’s growth, nutrient and fruit quality. Five soilless media were prepared including CD as control. A customised portable IoT system was deployed to monitor and collect relevant real-time agronomic data. Result: Plant height, yield, leaf area, total fresh fruit weight and soluble solids content (sweetness) of rock melon were significantly affected by the growing medium. Among the five media used, the growth and quality characteristics were highest in M2 followed by M3. It was found that a combination of burnt rice husk (BRH) and perlite with CD remarkably improved the growth of fruit quality of rock melon.

Silicon (Si) is one of the most prevalent elements in the Plant’s crust which is mostly made up of silicates. Si is not regarded as needed for plant growth and development; nonetheless, there is growing evidence in the literature that this metalloid is advantageous to plants, particularly when plants are under stress. Silicon (Si) is notoriously difficult to eradicate from the nutritional substrate of plants, it has been impossible to demonstrate that plants cannot finish their life cycles without Silicon. Nevertheless, plants get advantages from the presence of Silicon, and it has been shown that Si may boost the plant's resistance to both biotic and abiotic challenges, providing the plant with protection and stability. By analyzing the data that is currently accessible in the published research, this investigation will explore the positive impact of silicon on plant growth. Si transporters are responsible for mediating the movement of Silicon, which is taken up in silicic acid. The amorphous SiO2 structures known as phytolites are generated inside the plant. The decomposition of plants results in the return of phytolites to the soil, which in turn results in the return of Silicon to the soil, where subsequent generations of plants can take it up. Many other kinds of proteins work in concert with Si to protect plants from various pathogens. These data indicate that Silicon must be classified as a necessary plant nutrient rather than just a helpful one. In this study, we highlight the function of Silicon in the soil as well as in plants, particularly with a focus on micronutrients, metabolites, Si fertilizer, crop quality, Prophylactic effects from crop diseases, phytolites, and their importance, the role of Silicon in plant roots, the role of Silicon in plant protection, stabilization, and enhancing plant health and performances, and the role of Silicon in phytolites.

White root disease (WRD) infection in rubber plantations which is caused by Rigidiporus micropores can lead to a significant yield loss. At the early infection stage, it is very difficult to diagnose the disease because infected trees do not exhibit any symptoms. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate the potential application of spectroscopic technology and machine learning algorithms to classify severity level of infected trees at early stage based on spectral data. A total of 50 leaf samples were used in this work, representing five severity levels; healthy, light, moderate, severe and very severe infection. A visible shortwave near-infrared (VSNIR) spectrometer was used to record the spectral data of the leaf samples. The chlorophyll content of each leaf was measured using SPAD meter. Four classification algorithms investigated in this study were artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), knearest neighbour (kNN) and random forest (RF). The result of the study demonstrates good classification accuracy of 90, 82, 78, and 72% for ANN, SVM, kNN and RF, respectively. This work shows that the spectroscopic measurement combined with classification techniques are promising strategy to classify severity level of WRD based on the spectral data of the rubber leaves.

Agricultural waste is a type of solid waste that needs to be managed properly. Organic waste can be recycled to produce bokashi fertilizer, which can be used to improve soil health, increase crop production, and sanitize the environment. However, it may contain heavy metals that could be toxic to plants and can pollute the environment if not properly decomposed. This study was designed to evaluate the fertilizer quality of six different bokashi fertilizer ratios (bfrs) over seven- and thirty-day maturation periods. The raw materials used include horse bedding waste (HBW), cow dung (CD), and paddy husk charcoal (PHC) in different ratios, treated with an effective microorganisms (EM4) solution. All the nutrients studied (N, P, K, Mg, and Ca) were significantly affected by the bokashi fertilizer ratios (bfrs). The best bokashi fertilizer ratio was bokashi fertilizer ratio-6 (bfr6), but it was statistically similar to bokashi fertilizer ratio-5 (bfr5). Its N, P, K, Mg, and Ca contents were higher than the control (bfr1) by 133.9%, 225.5%, 196.4%, 105.0%, and 84.7%, respectively. Similarly, all these nutrients were significantly affected by time. N, P, K, and Mg increased by 21.2, 33.0%, 16.4%, and 28.8%, respectively, after 30 days of maturation, with a decrease in Ca only 2.4%, which was not significant A germination index (GI) of 90.1% was obtained using cabbage seeds. The heavy metals result and germination bioassay confirmed the safety and maturity of the bokashi fertilizer. In conclusion, the results revealed that good-quality bokashi fertilizer can be produced within 30 days. Bfrr5 and bfr6 are equally good candidates for producing good-quality bokashi fertilizer for effective crop growth.

The sprinkler irrigation system is the most widely used system for rubber irrigation in a nursery. However, the method is associated with high water loss during irrigation. In view of this, an experiment was conducted to assess the effect of different irrigation systems on the growth dynamics, leaf ratio analyses, water productivity, and water use efficiency of rubber seedlings. The treatments were the irrigation systems; soil + overhead sprinkler (CON), growing media (GM) + drip irrigation (DRP), GM + capillary wick system (WCK), and GM + overhead sprinkler (SPR). Each treatment was replicated three times, and the experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design. The results showed that the DRP and WCK had significantly (p<0.05) higher seedlings’ growth parameters by 15–39% than obtained in the SPR and CON. However, the DRP, WCK, and SPR had statistically comparable seedlings’ root length and volume by 14–43% higher relative to the CON. Similar trends of plant growth dynamics, such as crop growth rate (CGR), leaf area index (LAI), and leaf ratio analyses, were observed for all treatments. However, the CON had lower CGR and LAI, which could be attributed to the lower water retention of the soil used in the treatment. The DRP and WCK had comparable water productivity with 56–60% higher than the SPR and CON treatments. The sprinkler irrigation treatments (SPR and CON) had 84% lower water use efficiency than the DRP and WCK. The DRP and WCK are the best treatments in this study because their higher water application uniformity led to higher seedlings’ growth dynamics and water productivity. The sprinkler system had higher water loss due to the lack of application uniformity, leading to lower plant growth than other irrigations. However, the SPR shows the potential to be more cost-effective due to its lower recurrent cost of labor than drip and wick irrigation.

White root rot (WRR) disease, caused by Rigidoporus microporus, is one of the major constraints causing the economic loss to rubber plantation worldwide including in Malaysia. This glasshouse study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a peat-based bioformulation of Enterobacter sp. UPMSSB7 and an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF, Glomus mosseae) with silicon (Si) for WRR suppression and plant growth promotion of rubber seedlings. Results revealed that the tested bioformulation significantly (P < 0.0001) reduced the disease compared to positive control while, was not significantly different than the propiconazole, a triazole fungicide. The lower values of disease incidence, disease severity of foliar and root rot symptoms, area under disease progress curve, pathogen colonization and higher value of disease reduction were recorded in both bioformulation and the triazole fungicide treated seedlings than positive control treatment 24 weeks after inoculation with R. microporus. Results indicated that pathogen-inoculated seedlings treated with bioformulation had significantly (P < 0.0001) increased stem height, girth size, chlorophyll content, leaf area, shoot and root dry weight, total root length, root volume and root surface area (103.8 cm, 8.08 mm, 56.62 SPAD value, 3534.8 cm2, 37.04 g and 36.76 g, 1617.7 cm, 24.15 cm3 and 402.97 cm2, respectively) as compared to fungicide and control treatments. The tested bioformulation also significantly (P < 0.0001) increased silicon content in root and shoot (18.56 g kg−1 and 27.61 g kg−1, respectively) as well as leaf nutrient (N, P, K and Ca) contents (3.89%, 0.19%, 1.06% and 0.57%, respectively) as compared to the triazole fungicide and control treatments. The population of Enterobacter sp. (1.1 × 108 cfu g−1 soil) recorded in pathogen-inoculated seedlings treated with bioformulation was not significantly different than non-inoculated seedlings treated with bioformulation. AMF spore density and root colonization were re

Background and Objective: Intercropping remains a common practice in many developing nations due to the increasing focus on sustainability and food security. A field study was conducted to evaluate the productivity of sweet corn and okra planted in intercropping as affected by crop ratios. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The crop ratio treatments of intercropping pattern were T1 (20% okra+80% sweet corn+rubber), T2 (50% okra+50% sweet corn+rubber), T3 (80% okra+20% sweet corn+rubber), T4 (100% okra+rubber) and T5 (100% sweet corn+rubber). Results: The sweet corn results revealed that the number of marketable cobs, cob yield and biomass yield was significantly influenced by the cropping pattern where the highest values were obtained in sole sweet corn. The number of okra fresh pods per plant, length and diameter of the fresh pod, weight per pod as well as fresh pod yield per hectare was significantly reduced when okra was intercropped with sweet corn. With regard to intercropping efficiency, the highest Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) and Monetary Advantage Index (MAI) were from the intercropping pattern of T1 (20% okra+80% sweet corn+rubber) with 1.14 and RM 3388 ha–1, respectively. Conclusion: Thus, sweet corn-okra intercropping pattern of 20% okra+80% sweet corn+rubber is the most preferred practice in young rubber plantation than sole cropping of sweet corn or okra.

Genetic diversity has been a critical step in knowing the different growth traits for selection and varietal improvement of rice. The present study aimed to estimate the phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients among the growth traits and to work out how to select between traits. Three field experiments were carried out in Malaysia during the cropping season of 2016/2018. Sixteen advanced blast resistant rice lines were studied in order to find out the genetic diversity in some quantitative characters and to find out the relationship between yield and yield related components by using the multivariate analysis. The field trials were conducted in a split-plot design replicated three times in a plot of 35 × 28.5 m2. The planting distant was 25 × 25 cm spacing and the plot size was 2 × 1.5 m2 unit for genotype in each replication. There was a significant difference among the characters, most of the genotypes responded significantly. The high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), heritability, relative distance and genetic advance indicated that different traits especially tonnes per hectare (Tha), grain weight per plot (GWTPP) and kilogram per plot (kgplot) significantly influenced the yield trait. In addition, the genotypes were grouped into 9 major clusters based on the assessed characters by using the UPGMA dendrogram. Group 1 with Group VII could be hybridized in order to attain higher heterosis or the best between the genotypes, which becomes helpful in developing a good selection in rice.

Effects of water frequencies on growth and physiological response of different clones of rubber were investigated. Different clones of rubber were screened with different watering frequencies as everyday watering (EW), every 2 days (E2D), every 3 days (E3D), every 5 days (E5D), and every 7 days (E7D). The treatments EW and E2D were found to be suitable for all the five clones for increasing as shown in plant height. A similar result was also found for plant biomass after 4 and 8 months of treatments. Noticeably, watering had a pronounced positive effect on clone RRIM 3001 and greatly increased vigorous growth as shown in its highest height, largest girth circumference and relative growth rate after 8 months of different watering frequencies. This clone equally showed superior performance with a significantly higher total plant biomass after 4 and 8 months of watering frequencies compared to the other four clones. The result could be used in water management and the clone RRIM 3001 could be suitable for rubber production at the nursery stage and replanting exercise in rubber plantations.

White root rot disease caused by Rigidoporus microporus results in major economic loss to rubber plantation in all rubber growing countries including Malaysia. This glasshouse trial was conducted to explore the potential of single and co-inoculation of Enterobacter sp. UPMSSB7 and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae) with silicon for white root rot disease suppression and plant growth promotion of rubber seedlings. Plants were artificially infected with R. microporus using rubber wood blocks. The results revealed that co-inoculation with silicon significantly reduced the disease incidence and disease severity of foliar and root rot symptoms and also recorded the highest disease reduction compared to control after 24 weeks of artificial infection with R. microporus. The highest stem height, girth size, chlorophyll content, leaf area, shoot and root dry weight, root length, root volume and root surface area were achieved by co-inoculation with silicon. The co-inoculation with silicon also significantly improved silicon content in roots and shoots and leaf nutrient contents (N, P and K). The Enterobacter sp. population density, mycorrhizal spore density and root colonization were increased in co-inoculation with silicon treatment as compared to control and single inoculation treatments. From this study, it was concluded that co-inoculation of Enterobacter sp. and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with silicon had potential to suppress Rigidoporus microporus and improve plant growth of rubber seedlings under glasshouse conditions.

The rubber industry is projected to increase to RM53 billion or USD1.3 billion of gross national income by 2020 in Malaysia (Malaysian Rubber Board 2009). Introductions of superclones with high yield potential such as RRIM 3001 are among the efforts to improve latex yield as well as timber yields. Superclone RRIM 3001, mostly cultivated by smallholders, yields about 3 tons of natural rubber latex per hectare per year. During September 2017, trunk bulging occurrences were observed in rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) RRIM 3001 superclone in Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. These bulges appeared in different sizes and were similar to tumor-like bacteriosis on the whole trunk. Other symptoms were also observed, including depressed canker wounds with different sizes at the tapping zone and large bleeding lesions on the trunk and branches of the rubber trees. Symptomatic bark tissue of various rubber trees was collected at 1.52 m by using a sterile knife. The infected tissues were cut approximately at 0.5 × 0.5 cm, surface sterilized in 10% sodium hypochlorite, and washed two times in sterilized water. The tissues were mashed using pestle and mortar, shaken for 15 min in sterilized water, streaked onto nutrient agar (NA) medium, and incubated at 30°C for 24 h. From 15 putative strains, three potential strains (SM1, SM2, and SM3) were chosen for further characterization. Bacterial colonies were gram-positive, motile, endospore formers, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative, and produced a whitish pigment on NA medium. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with 16S rRNA and Bsub-specific primers (Wattiau et al. 2001) was performed, and the products were sequenced. BLASTn analysis of both genes revealed that all strains were 99% identical to Bacillus pumilus strains M3 (GenBank accession no. MF461325) and PS23 (GenBank accession no. KP89557). The nucleotide sequences were later deposited in GenBank (accession nos. MH401100 to MH401102 for 16 rRNA gene and MH428001 to M

The effect of N and P on nutrient concentrations, growth and vegetative traits of rubber (RRIM 2025) clone was evaluated. The treatments consisted 9 combinations of nitrogen (Urea) and phosphorus (Christmas Island Rock Phosphate – CIRP) with fixed rate of potassium (1.5 g per plant). The treatments were applied at different rates T1 (39.49 g), T2 (42.10 g), T3 (38.18 g), T4 (27.28 g) and T5 (26.10 g). The seedlings were planted in 15 cm x 30 cm filled with an Oxisol soil. Soil containing treatment (T2) significantly increased the seedlings growth like height and girth size than the remaining treatments. The results found that seedlings grown with T2 recorded higher chlorophyll content than the seedlings that were grown with T1, T4 and T5. Noticeably seedlings that was grown with T1 (39.49 g), T2 (42.10 g), and T3 (38.18 g) significantly had a higher shoot dry weight (SDW) than seedlings that were grown with T4 (27.28 g) and T5 (26.10 g). The same scenario was noticed in total dry weight (TDW) of the seedlings where T1 (68.64 g), T2 (73.30 g) and T3 (67.08) significantly recorded higher total dry weight than seedlings that were grown with T4 (50.29 g) and T5 (48.86 g). The result shows reflected a correlation between the SDW and TDW with respect to similar influence of the treatments on both the vegetative traits. Higher nitrogen content was recorded in seedlings rubber that were grown with T2 (3.57%) and significantly different from the seedlings that were grown with other treatments. The results of this study showed that higher dosage of fertilizer may not be necessary for the rubber seedlings. Application of fertilizers at the rate T2 which contains 2.0 g urea/plant and 7.5 g CIRP/plant could be considered as the optimum amount of fertilizer required for the rubber seedlings.

The study evaluates the effect of different media on growth and vegetative traits of oil palm seedlings. The treatments were T1 Control, T2 100% coco peat, T3 20% soil + 80% coco peat, T4 40% soil + 60% coco peat, T5 60% soil + 40% coco peat. Oxisol soil used for plantation crops was designated as a control evaluation. The new media were filled in polybag size 38cm x 57cm before transplanting the seedlings. The seedlings used were from Calix 600 series (D x P oil palm seeds). The newly produced growth media combination had the equal potential as standard media for oil palm nursery. The treatment (T4) which contained 60% coco peat and soil noticeably, enhanced growth of the seedling like plant height. Root dry weight (g) of seedlings grown in this planting medium greatly impacted plant root. This could have been due to the presence of silica content in the coco-peat which provided good aeration in the medium and indirectly stimulated root expansion. Increased in shoot dry weight of the seedlings grown in T4 was recorded compared to the plants grown in other media. The results obtained generally indicated that compost- based planting medium has the potential to influence seedling as an alternative growth medium.

Hevea brasiliensis is one of the popular industrial crops in Malaysia better known as rubber tree belongs to the family Euphorbiaceace. From more than 12 species of Hevea, only Hevea brasiliensis is economically exploited because the milky latex extracted from the tree is the primary source of natural rubber. As in other crops, various plant physiological conditions and pathogenic diseases influence rubber production. Brown bast is one of the most serious threats to natural rubber production. In general, high-yielding clones of rubber tree are often considered to be more susceptible to this physiological disorder also commonly termed Tapping Panel Dryness (TPD). It is estimated that brown bast leads to approximately 15-20% decrease in yield. There is no known cure for brown bast yet. However, many plantation practices manage brown bast in rubber by giving tapping rest and changing tapping panel. Hence, this review condenses the causal of brown bast, symptoms of diseases and also control of brown bast affected Hevea tree.

Rubber seedlings raised in the soil-polybag system experience root coiling and restriction and the overhead sprinkler results in much water wastage. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of root trainers and three irrigation systems on rubber seedlings grown in a peat-based medium. The irrigation systems were the overhead sprinkler (SPR), drip (DRP) and capillary wick (WCK). The fourth treatment was the control (CTRL), which required growing rubber seedlings in conventional soil-polybags that were then irrigated using the wick system. The treatments were compared with one another in terms of their influence on nutrient loss, crop water productivity and water use efficiency, plant growth parameters and plant nutrient content of the rubber seedlings. A field experiment was carried out in a rain shelter for eight months, and data collection was carried out once per month. The experimental layout was the completely randomised block design. The results showed that WCK had the lowest cumulative leachate volume and the least cumulative nutrients leached. Both DRP and WCK had the highest plant growth parameters such as total fresh and dry weight, total leaf area and girth size, water productivity and leaf nutrient content. WCK was the best irrigation system together with the peat-based growing medium for raising rubber nursery seedlings.

The effect of N and P on nutrient concentrations, growth and vegetative traits of rubber (RRIM 2025) clone was evaluated. The treatments consisted 9 combinations of nitrogen (Urea) and phosphorus (Christmas Island Rock Phosphate – CIRP) with fixed rate of potassium (1.5 g per plant). The treatments were applied at different rates T1 (39.49 g), T2 (42.10 g), T3 (38.18 g), T4 (27.28 g) and T5 (26.10 g). The seedlings were planted in 15 cm x 30 cm filled with an Oxisol soil. Soil containing treatment (T2) significantly increased the seedlings growth like height and girth size than the remaining treatments. The results found that seedlings grown with T2 recorded higher chlorophyll content than the seedlings that were grown with T1, T4 and T5. Noticeably seedlings that was grown with T1 (39.49 g), T2 (42.10 g), and T3 (38.18 g) significantly had a higher shoot dry weight (SDW) than seedlings that were grown with T4 (27.28 g) and T5 (26.10 g). The same scenario was noticed in total dry weight (TDW) of the seedlings where T1 (68.64 g), T2 (73.30 g) and T3 (67.08) significantly recorded higher total dry weight than seedlings that were grown with T4 (50.29 g) and T5 (48.86 g). The result shows reflected a correlation between the SDW and TDW with respect to similar influence of the treatments on both the vegetative traits. Higher nitrogen content was recorded in seedlings rubber that were grown with T2 (3.57%) and significantly different from the seedlings that were grown with other treatments. The results of this study showed that higher dosage of fertilizer may not be necessary for the rubber seedlings. Application of fertilizers at the rate T2 which contains 2.0 g urea/plant and 7.5 g CIRP/plant could be considered as the optimum amount of fertilizer required for the rubber seedlings.

Rubber hectarage has decreased year by year. Thus, future planting has been pushed to the problem areas which are class IV and V soils. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the growth and physiological traits of RRIM 3001 planted in non-traditional area which is Gajah Mati and Jabil series and to measure the optimum rate of fertilizer of RRIM 3001 planted in these soils. In this study, the fertilizer rates were divided into four levels, Tl (0 g/ tree per year), T2 (480 g/tree per year), T3 (720 g/tree per year) and T4 (960 g/tree per year). The fertilizer used in this study is NPK Yellow (J 5: 15:6:4). In terms of the total plant height and girth increment, there were significant difference between Gajah Mati and Jabil series where Gajah Mati showed better performance compared to Jabil series. This is attributed to the drainage status of the soil which is well drained whereas Jabil is poorly drained Applying fertilizer up to the rate of 658 g/tree per year responded to quadratic model with the maximum of 1 0.3 cm/year on Gajah Mati compared to Jabil, 715 g/tree per year which gave the maximum girth of8.4 cm/year. From this study, it is recommended that for non-traditional area especially Jabil and Gajah Mati, fertilizer should be applied 37% extra compared to the recommended rates in Gajah Mati series, while for the Jabil series, fertilizer should be applied 49% extra compared to the recommended rates in order to obtain maximum girth (cm/year). On the other hand, the fertilizer use should contain higher K compared to the NPK Yellow (J 5: 15:6:4).

This study is on the optimization of the medium for solubilization of phosphate based on the Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology. Optimization of the liquid medium for phosphate solubilization using Serratia marcescens strain AGKT4 was carried out by varying the concentrations of 3 ingredients; the fructose, peptone and inoculum size of bacteria. A mathematical model derived from the response surface methodology was then validated statistically for the target test variables. The highest phosphate solubilization in the medium was achieved at the optimal concentrations of fructose and peptone at 6% (w/v) and 0.6% (w/v), respectively. The maximum phosphate solubilization at these concentrations was 239.12 µg/mL. Under the same conditions, the bacterial growth in the medium was 9 log10 CFU.

The effect of palm oil mill effluent vermicompost on growth and vegetative traits of oil palm seedlings was evaluated. Different rates of vermicompost 10 g, 20 g and 30 g and 20 g of an NPK blue fertilizer as designated control was used. The experiment was conducted over a period of 120 days. Growth and vegetative traits like plant height, girth size, total dry weight (TDW) and root: shoot ratio (RSR) and foliar nutrient data were collected. Noticeably, the vermicompost and the NPK blue fertilizer were at par in stimulating the growth of the oil as shown in the plant height and girth size. The total dry weight (TDW) and Root: shoot ratio (RSR) showed that the vermicompost especially the higher rates significantly performed equal and positively affected the plant biomass. The nitrogen content was apparent in the plants grown with the highest rate of the vermicompost 30 g and the fertilizer with a significant effect on the leaf chlorophyll content. The results showed that the vermicompost particularly the higher rates were as suitable as the fertilizer with respect to the growth and vegetative traits.

The resuts assessed growth and vegetative traits of rubber based on physic-chemical properties of newly produced soilless potting media. The treatments consisted of three soilless potting mixes coded as M1, M2 newly produced, a commercial-based medium M3 and soil-based M4 as a control. The treatment (M2) that contained coconut husk 15%, empty fruit bunch (EFB) 15%, sugarcane bagasse 15%, urea-N 10% and proportions of other materials noticeably showed the highest and significant N concentration. It significantly increased growth traits; scions stem diameter, the number of leaves, leaf area and leaf area index. Other vegetative traits such as total fresh weights and total dry weights are significantly improved. Most of the root morphological traits on the M2 was significantly higher when compared to the other media. Materials used in its preparation relatively induced rootstocks of the seedlings due to their water and nutrient absorptive capacity and could be an alternative to many poor soils when establishing rubber nursery.

The cost of fertilizer for oil palm planting increases yearly as most soils used in the plantation especially in tropics heavily depend on chemical fertilizer which equally contributes to environmental degradation. A study was carried out to evaluate the effect and suitable rate of J. curcas seed cake waste on growth and vegetative traits of oil palm seedlings as an alternative or substitute to chemical fertilizer. A factorial experiment was carried out using randomized complete blocks design with three replicates. Treatments included ground J. curcas seed cake applied to the seedlings at different rates of 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 g per plant. Fertilizer, N.P.K Blue 20 g/plant was used as control evaluation. Application of 25 g/plant profoundly performed as the conventional fertilizer N.P.K (control) noticeable in plant growth traits like girth increment. The chlorophyll content in the leaves increased with increasing rate of Jatropha seedcake, but control treatment indicated highest chlorophyll content. There was no significant difference in total dry weight among the treatments, though J. curcas seed cake wastes at 20g, 25g, and 30g showed an increasing total dry weight. Treatment 25 g/plant of J. curcas seed cake gave the highest root: shoot ratio. Results suggest that foliar nutrient from J. curcas was suitable for oil palm seedlings based on nutrient requirements for oil palm seedlings that would achieve high growth vigor and biomass yield.