Effect of bioorganic fertilizers on the growth parameters, productivity, and quality of carrot (Daucus carota L.) under the foothill conditions of Southeastern Kazakhstan

Abstract

Background and Aim. Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is one of the most widely consumed vegetable crops due to its high nutritional value and strong consumer demand. With the development of organic agriculture, the development of effective bioorganic nutrient management systems is of
particular importance for increasing crop productivity and quality while reducing the chemical load on agroecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the integrated application of bioorganic fertilizers for organic carrot production under the soil and climatic conditions of southeastern Kazakhstan.
Materials and Methods. The study was conducted in 2024–2025 at the Kainar Regional Branch of the Kazakh Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing in the foothill zone of southeastern Kazakhstan. The mid-season carrot cultivar Alau, adapted to local growing conditions, was used in the
experiment. The experiment included a control treatment (T1) and four treatments with different
bioorganic fertilizers (T2-T5), arranged in four replications. The biometric characteristics of plants and roots, yield, dry matter, total sugar, vitamin C, carotene, and nitrate content were evaluated. The data were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of p ≤ 0.05.
Results. The results demonstrated that the application of bioorganic fertilizers had a positive effect on the growth, development, and productivity of carrot plants, contributing to the formation of a more developed leaf apparatus and larger roots. Improved vegetative growth was accompanied by increases in marketable root weight, root dimensions, and crop yield. The highest yield was recorded in
treatment T3, reaching 30.09 t ha⁻¹, which was 40.34% higher than that of the control treatment (T1).
The application of bioorganic fertilizers also improved the biochemical characteristics of carrot roots.
At the same time, nitrate concentrations in the roots in all experimental treatments remained below the maximum permissible level, confirming the safety of the obtained produce. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences in yield among the experimental treatments (T1-T5).
Conclusion. The application of bioorganic fertilizers is an effective approach to increasing carrot productivity and quality under the conditions of southeastern Kazakhstan. The results demonstrate the potential of the integrated application of vermicompost and liquid biological fertilizers for producing highly productive and high-quality carrot roots within environmentally oriented production systems.