Articles
Enhancing transplant quality in vegetable seedlings using biostimulants and organic amendments
Article number
1453_3
Pages
17 – 24
Language
English
Abstract
Improving transplant quality through biostimulants and organic amendments can enhance early seedling vigor in vegetable crops.
This study summarized three experiments conducted on the effects of biostimulants including organic amendments on transplant quality in artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) and pepper (Capsicum annuum) seedlings.
In the artichoke study, two cultivars (‘17-111’ and ‘17-129’) were grown in 128-cell trays and treated with five commercially available biostimulants: seaweed extract (Kelpak), solid humic substance (Novihum), bacterial inoculant (Spectrum), mycorrhizal fungi mix (MycoApply), a combination of bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi (SpectrumMyco), and an untreated control.
Spectrum consistently improved root dry weight in both cultivars, while SpectrumMyco significantly increased leaf area and shoot fresh weight in ‘17-111’. However, Kelpak reduced root growth in ‘17-111’ and decreased shoot growth in ‘17-129’, indicating a cultivar-specific response.
In the pepper study, two cultivars (‘Tenor’ and ‘Mama Mia Giallo’) were treated with four organic amendments – solid humic acids (Novihum®), Trichoderma (Rootshield® PLUS+), liquid humic substances (Huma Pro® 16), and foliar calcium (On-Gard®). Pepper treated with Novihum® had a significant increase in shoot growth at 4 weeks after seeding (WAS). However, no consistent improvements were observed with the other amendments.
Additionally, in a similar seedling study for pepper, two cultivars (‘Jimmy Nardello’ and ‘Mama Mia Giallo’) grown under organic management exhibited significantly improved transplant quality with microbial biostimulants also in cultivar-specific manner.
These findings suggest that biostimulants and organic amendments responses are both cultivar-dependent as well as management-dependent.
Overall, selective biostimulants improved seedling growth and transplant quality in artichoke and pepper seedlings.
This study summarized three experiments conducted on the effects of biostimulants including organic amendments on transplant quality in artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) and pepper (Capsicum annuum) seedlings.
In the artichoke study, two cultivars (‘17-111’ and ‘17-129’) were grown in 128-cell trays and treated with five commercially available biostimulants: seaweed extract (Kelpak), solid humic substance (Novihum), bacterial inoculant (Spectrum), mycorrhizal fungi mix (MycoApply), a combination of bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi (SpectrumMyco), and an untreated control.
Spectrum consistently improved root dry weight in both cultivars, while SpectrumMyco significantly increased leaf area and shoot fresh weight in ‘17-111’. However, Kelpak reduced root growth in ‘17-111’ and decreased shoot growth in ‘17-129’, indicating a cultivar-specific response.
In the pepper study, two cultivars (‘Tenor’ and ‘Mama Mia Giallo’) were treated with four organic amendments – solid humic acids (Novihum®), Trichoderma (Rootshield® PLUS+), liquid humic substances (Huma Pro® 16), and foliar calcium (On-Gard®). Pepper treated with Novihum® had a significant increase in shoot growth at 4 weeks after seeding (WAS). However, no consistent improvements were observed with the other amendments.
Additionally, in a similar seedling study for pepper, two cultivars (‘Jimmy Nardello’ and ‘Mama Mia Giallo’) grown under organic management exhibited significantly improved transplant quality with microbial biostimulants also in cultivar-specific manner.
These findings suggest that biostimulants and organic amendments responses are both cultivar-dependent as well as management-dependent.
Overall, selective biostimulants improved seedling growth and transplant quality in artichoke and pepper seedlings.
Authors
A. Nagila, D.I. Leskovar
Keywords
soil amendments, pre-transplant, post-transplant, pepper, artichoke
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