EFFECTIVENESS OF A PLANT-DERIVED PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE TO IMPROVE CROP PERFORMANCES UNDER DIFFERENT GROWING CONDITIONS

The aim of the current work was to determine whether the use of a commercial plant-derived protein hydrolysate (‘Trainer’) could improve the growth and nitrogen uptake of maize and lettuce grown in a floating system using full strength and reduced nutrient solution concentrations (100 and 10%, respectively) (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, ‘Trainer’ was applied to the maize roots at the following concentrations 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 2.5 ml L^-1, whereas in Experiment 2, two concentrations (0, and 2.5 ml L^-1) of ‘Trainer’ were used as foliar spray.
Increasing ‘Trainer’ concentration from 0 to 2.5 ml L^-1 significantly increased the plant height, shoot dry biomass, SPAD index and leaf nitrogen of maize, whereas an opposite trend was observed for the root-to-shoot ratio.
In Experiment 2, at reduced solution concentration (10% of standard solution), weekly foliar applications of ‘Trainer’ at 2.5 ml L^-1 increased the fresh weight biomass, SPAD index and leaf nitrogen in lettuce by 50, 11 and 11%, respectively.
Thus the application of biostimulants could be considered as a good production strategy for obtaining high growth and yields of valuable crops with lower impact on the environment.

I World Congress on the Use of Biostimulants in Agriculture

G. Colla, E. Svecová, M. Cardarelli, Y. Rouphael, H. Reynaud, R. Canaguier, B. Planques

biostimulants, Lactuca sativa L., nutrient solution, SPAD index, Zea mays L.

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1009.21