Asian Journal of Agriculture and Allied Sciences

Evaluation of Sustainable Agroecological Practices Based on the Application of Organic Substrates (Cocodust) in Vegetable Seedlings at the Nursery Level in the Producing Areas of Bangladesh

2026-01-14T12:55:26+00:00

Seedling quality is a critical determinant of vegetable crop productivity, yet conventional soil-based nurseries in Bangladesh are frequently associated with high seedling mortality, soil-borne diseases, and excessive agrochemical use. This study assessed the agronomic performance and adoption potential of cocodust-based seedling nurseries compared with traditional soil-based practices across eight major vegetable crops in northern Bangladesh. Using a farm-level comparative mixed-methods design, data were collected from 80 vegetable farmers selected through stratified random sampling and grouped into cocodust users and traditional nursery users. Crop-wise differences in yield, harvesting time, and seedling mortality were analyzed using independent two-sample Welch’s t-tests. Cocodust application significantly increased yields of bitter gourd (17%), bottle gourd (18%), brinjal (23%), chili (23%), country bean (44%), and tomato (25%), while yield increases in cabbage (15%) and cauliflower (12%) were not statistically significant. Across all crops, seedling mortality was reduced by 68–82% under cocodust-based nurseries. Harvesting time was significantly shortened for all crops, with reductions of 8–15% in most cases and reaching 43–47% in chili and country bean. Cocodust use was associated with significantly reduced chemical fertilizer application in bitter gourd and marginally in tomato, and with reduced pesticide use in bitter gourd, country bean, and tomato, while organic fertilizer use remained high irrespective of nursery practice. Incidence of soil-borne diseases was significantly lower in bottle gourd and cauliflower under cocodust-based nurseries. Overall, cocodust-based seedling nurseries improved vegetable productivity, reduced early-stage seedling losses, shortened production cycles, and lowered reliance on chemical inputs in selected crops, highlighting cocodust as a low-cost and environmentally sustainable option for smallholder vegetable production systems.

Economic Viability and Cost Efficiency of Cocodust-Based Nursery Systems in Vegetable Farming in Bangladesh

2026-02-02T10:38:23+00:00

Seedling quality is a critical determinant of productivity, input-use efficiency, and profitability in vegetable farming. However, despite the growing adoption of cocodust-based nurseries in Bangladesh, their farm-level economic performance remains poorly quantified. This study assessed the economic viability of cocodust nursery technology using a farm-level comparative mixed-methods design. Data were collected from 80 vegetable farmers selected through stratified random sampling and grouped into cocodust user’s vs traditional nursery users. A detailed cost–benefit analysis was conducted and differences between nursery systems were analysed using independent two-sample Welch’s t-tests. The results show that cocodust-based nurseries incurred higher seedling costs, increasing by approximately 50–90% for most crops. However, these higher initial costs were more than offset by significant reductions in subsequent input use. Fertilizer costs declined by 18–38%, pesticide costs by up to 33%, labor costs by 16–40%, intercultural operation costs by 30–65%, irrigation costs by up to 22%, and pole and fence costs by 12–42% under cocodust-based systems. Consequently, total production costs decreased by 14–24% across crops, leading to substantial gains in net profitability. Net profit increased significantly for all vegetables, with improvements ranging from approximately 29–60% compared with traditional nursery practices. Overall, the findings indicate that cocodust nursery technology enhances input-use efficiency and reduces total production costs. This technology also significantly improve farm profitability, suggesting a financially viable and scalable option for promoting sustainable vegetable production and income growth among smallholder farmers in Bangladesh.

Coffee Husk Biochar: A Sustainable Amendment for Soil Acidity Mitigation and Carbon Sequestration

2026-02-11T10:25:46+00:00

Coffee husks are the most abundant biomass waste generated by coffee processing plants. Converting this waste into biochar is an emerging and promising approach for reclaiming acidic soils and enhancing carbon sequestration. This paper provides an overview of the characteristics of coffee husk biochar (CHB) and its effects on soil properties, liming and agronomic potential, and environmental impacts. Application of CHB produced at different pyrolysis temperatures and application rates increased soil pH, organic carbon, and the availability of P, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ in acidic soils, while significantly reducing exchangeable acidity and the concentrations of Al³⁺ and H⁺. The high ash content of CHB, together with the presence of KHCO₃ and CaCO₃, contributes to its strong liming potential in acidic soils. Furthermore, CHB produced at moderate pyrolysis temperatures (350–550 °C) exhibited high cation exchange capacity (CEC), indicating its potential to improve soil nutrient retention, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance carbon sequestration, thereby reducing dependence on agricultural lime. Overall, this review synthesises current knowledge on the effects of CHB on soil properties and highlights its potential role in mitigating soil acidity and climate change. The findings provide valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and farmers seeking sustainable strategies to improve acidic soils using CHB. However, as most existing studies have been conducted under controlled conditions, further research across diverse soil types and agroecological zones is required to fully understand the long-term impacts and practical applicability of CHB.