Articles
Effect of a bio-organic fertilizer on the growth of pomegranate plantlets
Article number
1457_86
Pages
685 – 690
Language
English
Abstract
Sustainable agriculture production has become increasingly challenging in recent years.
The use of eco-friendly organic fertilizers and biostimulants is a growing approach to face current and future challenges.
In the present study, a bio-organic fertilizer was tested to evaluate its effect on the growth of pomegranate plantlets.
Seaweed-based fertilizer containing rhizosphere bacteria was applied to one-year-old potted plantlets of ‘Acco’ and ‘Wonderful’ cultivars using the label-recommended and double doses.
Treatment effectiveness was compared with a control consisting only of water and a chemical control with urea at a dosage that provided the same amount of total nitrogen as the organic fertilizer.
The treatments were applied by fertigation every 10 days.
At the end of the experiment, plant growth parameters, including plant height, leaf number, and shoot and leaf fresh and dry weight, were measured.
The results showed that the tested bio-fertilizer significantly promoted the growth of pomegranate plantlets of both cultivars.
In ‘Acco’, the fresh and dry weights of the shoots and leaves were two and three times more than the negative control when the bio-fertilizer was applied at label-recommended and double doses, respectively.
These results suggest that bio-organic fertilizers could be an alternative to chemical fertilizers for promoting early growth of fruit crops.
The use of eco-friendly organic fertilizers and biostimulants is a growing approach to face current and future challenges.
In the present study, a bio-organic fertilizer was tested to evaluate its effect on the growth of pomegranate plantlets.
Seaweed-based fertilizer containing rhizosphere bacteria was applied to one-year-old potted plantlets of ‘Acco’ and ‘Wonderful’ cultivars using the label-recommended and double doses.
Treatment effectiveness was compared with a control consisting only of water and a chemical control with urea at a dosage that provided the same amount of total nitrogen as the organic fertilizer.
The treatments were applied by fertigation every 10 days.
At the end of the experiment, plant growth parameters, including plant height, leaf number, and shoot and leaf fresh and dry weight, were measured.
The results showed that the tested bio-fertilizer significantly promoted the growth of pomegranate plantlets of both cultivars.
In ‘Acco’, the fresh and dry weights of the shoots and leaves were two and three times more than the negative control when the bio-fertilizer was applied at label-recommended and double doses, respectively.
These results suggest that bio-organic fertilizers could be an alternative to chemical fertilizers for promoting early growth of fruit crops.
Publication
Authors
K. Mezrioui, S. Crescenzi, M. Zucchini, V. Giorgi, E.M. Lodolini, D. Neri
Keywords
biostimulant, seaweed-based fertilizer, sustainability, fertigation, ‘Acco’, ‘Wonderful’
Online Articles (96)