Effects of Biostimulant Application on Quali-Quantitative Characteristics of Cauliflower, Pepper and Fennel Crops under Organic and Conventional Fertilization
Nowadays, the main goal for modern horticultural
production is an increase the quality. In recent years, the use of
organic fertilizers or biostimulants that can be applied in agriculture
to improve quali-quantitative crop yields has encountered increasing
interest. Biostimulants are gaining importance also for their possible
use in organic and sustainable agriculture, to avoid excessive
fertilizer applications. Consecutive experimental trials were carried
out in the Apulia region (southern Italy) on three herbaceous crops
(cauliflower, pepper, fennel) grown in pots under conventional and
organic fertilization systems without and with biostimulants. The aim
was to determine the effects of three biostimulants (Siapton®10L,
Micotech L, Lysodin Alga-Fert) on quali-quantitative yield
characteristics. At harvest, the quali-quantitative yield characteristics
of each crop were determined. All of the experimental data were
subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), and when significant
effects were detected, the means were compared using Tukey’s tests.
These data show large differences in these yield characteristics
between conventional and organic crops, particularly highlighting
higher yields for the conventional crops, while variable results were
generally observed when the biostimulants were applied. In this
context, there were no effects of the biostimulants on the quantitative
yield, whereas there were low positive effects on the qualitative
characteristics, as related to higher dry matter content of cauliflower,
and higher soluble solids content of pepper. Moreover, there were
evident positive effects of the biostimulants with fennel, due to the
lower nitrate content. These latter data are in line with most of the
published literature obtained for other herbaceous crops.
[1] L. Cavani, C. Ciavatta, 2007. Attività biostimolante negli idrolizzanti
proteici. L’Informatore Agrario, 44, 46-52.
[2] M. Ayuso, T. Hernandez, C. Carcia, J.A. Pascual, 1996. Stimulation of
barly growth and nutrient absorption by humic substances originating
from various organic materials. Bioresource Technology, 57, 251-257.
[3] S. Diver, L. Greer, 2001. Sustainable small-scale nursery production.
Horticulturae System Guide. ATTRA, http://www.attra.org/attrapub/
PDF/nursery.pdf
[4] P. Morard, B. Eyheraguibel, M. Morard, J. Silvestre, 2011. Direct effects
of humic-like substance on growth, water and mineral nutrition of
various species. J. Plant Nutr., 34, 46-59. [5] S. Nardi, D. Pizzeghello, A. Muscolo, A. Vianello, 2002. Physiological
effects of humic substances on higher plants. Soil Biology &
Biochemistry 34, 1527-1536.
[6] C. Ciavatta, 2006. Biostimolanti: fertilizzanti a tutti gli effetti.
L’Informatore Agrario, 43, 37-39.
[7] B. Eyheraguibel, J. Silvestre, P. Morard, 2008. Effects of humic
substances derived from organic waste enhancement on the growth and
mineral of maize. Bioresource Technology, 99, 4206-4212.
[8] H. Khaled, H.A. Fawy, 2011. Effect of different levels of humic acids on
the nutrient content, plant growth, and soil properties under conditions of
salinity. Soil & Water Res., 6, 21-29.
[9] G.P. Berlyn, R.O. Russo, 1990. The use of organic biostimulants to
promote root growth. Belowground Ecol., 2, 12-13.
[10] J.R. Heckman, 1994. Effect of an organic biostimulant on cabbage yield.
J. Home and Consumer Hort., 1(1), 111-113.
[11] S.K Chen, C.A. Edwards, S. Subler, 2003. The influence of two
agricultural biostimulants, microbial activity and plant growth in soil
microcosms. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 35, 9-19.
[12] S. Tagliavini, C. Kubiokin, 2006. Effetti della biostimolazione in
Ortofrutticoltura: alcune esperienze a confronto. Fertilitas Agrorum, 1,
23-28.
[13] J. Parrado, J. Bautista, E.J. Romero, A.M. Garcia-Martinez, V. Friaza,
M. Tejada, 2008. Production of a carob enzymatic extract: potential use
as a biofertilizer. Bioresour. Technol., 99, 2312-2318.
[14] J.S. Virgine Tenshia, P. Singaram, 2005. Influence of humic acid
application on yield, nutrient availability and uptake in tomato. The
Madras Agr. J., 92, 670-676.
[15] T.K. Hartz, T.G. Bottoms, 2010. Humic substances generally ineffective
in improving vegetable crop nutrient uptake or productivity. Hort.
Science 45, 906-910.
[16] E.M. Selim, A.A. Mosa, A.M. El Ghamry, 2009. Evaluation of humic
substances fertigation through surface and subsurface drip irrigation
systems on potato grown under Egyptian sandy soil conditions. Agr.
Water Management, 96, 1218-1222.
[17] V. Mora, E. Bacaicoa, A.M. Zammareno, E. Aguirre, M. Garnica, M.
Fuentes, J Garcia-Mina, 2010. Action of humic acid on promotion of
cucumber shoot growth involves nitrate related changes associated with
the root-to-shoot distribution of cytokinins, polyamines and mineral
nutrients. J. Plant Physiol., 167, 633-642.
[18] M.M. Valdrighi, A. Pòera, M. Agnolucci, S. Frassinetti, D. Lunardi, G.
Vallini, 1996. Effects of composts derived humic acids on vegetable
biomass production and microbial growth within a plant (Cichorium
intybus) soil system: a comparative study. Agr. Ecosys. Env., 58, 133-
144.
[19] N.Q. Arancon, S. Lee, C.A. Edwards, R. Atiyeh, 2003. Effects of humic
acids derived from cattle, food and paper-waste-vermicomposts on
growth of greenhouse plants. Pedobiologia, 47, 741-744.
[20] R.M Atiyeh, S. Lee, C.A. Edwards, N.Q Arancon, J.D. Metzger, 2002.
The influence of humic acids derived from earhworm processed organic
wastes on plant growth. Bioresource Technology, 84, 7-14.
[21] A. Ferrante, L. Incrocci, R. Maggini, G. Serra, F. Tognoni, 2004. Colour
changes of fresh-cut leafy vegetables during storage. J. Food, Agri. and
Environ., 2(3&4).40-44.
[22] G. Disciglio, L. Frabboni, A. Tarantino, E. Tarantino, 2014. Applying
natural fertilizers to herbaceous crops. Journal of Life Science, Vol. 8,
no. 6, 504-510 ISSN 1934-7391.
[23] A. Alberici, M. Valagussa , A. Piaggesi, A. Ferrante, 2009. Effects of
biostimulants on quality of baby leaf lettuce grown under plastic tunnel.
Acta Horticulturae, 807, 407-412.
[24] P. Vernieri, E. Borghesi, A. Ferrante, G. Magnani, 2005. Application of
biostimulants in floating system for improving rocket quality. J. Food,
Agri and Environ., 3(3&4), 86-88.
[25] P.R. Warman, 1998. Results of the long-term vegetable crop production
trials: conventional vs compost-amended soils, in: International
Symposium on Composting and Use of Composted Materials for
Horticulture, pp. 333-34.
[1] L. Cavani, C. Ciavatta, 2007. Attività biostimolante negli idrolizzanti
proteici. L’Informatore Agrario, 44, 46-52.
[2] M. Ayuso, T. Hernandez, C. Carcia, J.A. Pascual, 1996. Stimulation of
barly growth and nutrient absorption by humic substances originating
from various organic materials. Bioresource Technology, 57, 251-257.
[3] S. Diver, L. Greer, 2001. Sustainable small-scale nursery production.
Horticulturae System Guide. ATTRA, http://www.attra.org/attrapub/
PDF/nursery.pdf
[4] P. Morard, B. Eyheraguibel, M. Morard, J. Silvestre, 2011. Direct effects
of humic-like substance on growth, water and mineral nutrition of
various species. J. Plant Nutr., 34, 46-59. [5] S. Nardi, D. Pizzeghello, A. Muscolo, A. Vianello, 2002. Physiological
effects of humic substances on higher plants. Soil Biology &
Biochemistry 34, 1527-1536.
[6] C. Ciavatta, 2006. Biostimolanti: fertilizzanti a tutti gli effetti.
L’Informatore Agrario, 43, 37-39.
[7] B. Eyheraguibel, J. Silvestre, P. Morard, 2008. Effects of humic
substances derived from organic waste enhancement on the growth and
mineral of maize. Bioresource Technology, 99, 4206-4212.
[8] H. Khaled, H.A. Fawy, 2011. Effect of different levels of humic acids on
the nutrient content, plant growth, and soil properties under conditions of
salinity. Soil & Water Res., 6, 21-29.
[9] G.P. Berlyn, R.O. Russo, 1990. The use of organic biostimulants to
promote root growth. Belowground Ecol., 2, 12-13.
[10] J.R. Heckman, 1994. Effect of an organic biostimulant on cabbage yield.
J. Home and Consumer Hort., 1(1), 111-113.
[11] S.K Chen, C.A. Edwards, S. Subler, 2003. The influence of two
agricultural biostimulants, microbial activity and plant growth in soil
microcosms. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 35, 9-19.
[12] S. Tagliavini, C. Kubiokin, 2006. Effetti della biostimolazione in
Ortofrutticoltura: alcune esperienze a confronto. Fertilitas Agrorum, 1,
23-28.
[13] J. Parrado, J. Bautista, E.J. Romero, A.M. Garcia-Martinez, V. Friaza,
M. Tejada, 2008. Production of a carob enzymatic extract: potential use
as a biofertilizer. Bioresour. Technol., 99, 2312-2318.
[14] J.S. Virgine Tenshia, P. Singaram, 2005. Influence of humic acid
application on yield, nutrient availability and uptake in tomato. The
Madras Agr. J., 92, 670-676.
[15] T.K. Hartz, T.G. Bottoms, 2010. Humic substances generally ineffective
in improving vegetable crop nutrient uptake or productivity. Hort.
Science 45, 906-910.
[16] E.M. Selim, A.A. Mosa, A.M. El Ghamry, 2009. Evaluation of humic
substances fertigation through surface and subsurface drip irrigation
systems on potato grown under Egyptian sandy soil conditions. Agr.
Water Management, 96, 1218-1222.
[17] V. Mora, E. Bacaicoa, A.M. Zammareno, E. Aguirre, M. Garnica, M.
Fuentes, J Garcia-Mina, 2010. Action of humic acid on promotion of
cucumber shoot growth involves nitrate related changes associated with
the root-to-shoot distribution of cytokinins, polyamines and mineral
nutrients. J. Plant Physiol., 167, 633-642.
[18] M.M. Valdrighi, A. Pòera, M. Agnolucci, S. Frassinetti, D. Lunardi, G.
Vallini, 1996. Effects of composts derived humic acids on vegetable
biomass production and microbial growth within a plant (Cichorium
intybus) soil system: a comparative study. Agr. Ecosys. Env., 58, 133-
144.
[19] N.Q. Arancon, S. Lee, C.A. Edwards, R. Atiyeh, 2003. Effects of humic
acids derived from cattle, food and paper-waste-vermicomposts on
growth of greenhouse plants. Pedobiologia, 47, 741-744.
[20] R.M Atiyeh, S. Lee, C.A. Edwards, N.Q Arancon, J.D. Metzger, 2002.
The influence of humic acids derived from earhworm processed organic
wastes on plant growth. Bioresource Technology, 84, 7-14.
[21] A. Ferrante, L. Incrocci, R. Maggini, G. Serra, F. Tognoni, 2004. Colour
changes of fresh-cut leafy vegetables during storage. J. Food, Agri. and
Environ., 2(3&4).40-44.
[22] G. Disciglio, L. Frabboni, A. Tarantino, E. Tarantino, 2014. Applying
natural fertilizers to herbaceous crops. Journal of Life Science, Vol. 8,
no. 6, 504-510 ISSN 1934-7391.
[23] A. Alberici, M. Valagussa , A. Piaggesi, A. Ferrante, 2009. Effects of
biostimulants on quality of baby leaf lettuce grown under plastic tunnel.
Acta Horticulturae, 807, 407-412.
[24] P. Vernieri, E. Borghesi, A. Ferrante, G. Magnani, 2005. Application of
biostimulants in floating system for improving rocket quality. J. Food,
Agri and Environ., 3(3&4), 86-88.
[25] P.R. Warman, 1998. Results of the long-term vegetable crop production
trials: conventional vs compost-amended soils, in: International
Symposium on Composting and Use of Composted Materials for
Horticulture, pp. 333-34.
@article{"International Journal of Biological, Life and Agricultural Sciences:70201", author = "E. Tarantino and G. Disciglio and L. Frabboni and A. Libutti and G. Gatta and A. Gagliaridi and A. Tarantino", title = "Effects of Biostimulant Application on Quali-Quantitative Characteristics of Cauliflower, Pepper and Fennel Crops under Organic and Conventional Fertilization", abstract = "Nowadays, the main goal for modern horticultural
production is an increase the quality. In recent years, the use of
organic fertilizers or biostimulants that can be applied in agriculture
to improve quali-quantitative crop yields has encountered increasing
interest. Biostimulants are gaining importance also for their possible
use in organic and sustainable agriculture, to avoid excessive
fertilizer applications. Consecutive experimental trials were carried
out in the Apulia region (southern Italy) on three herbaceous crops
(cauliflower, pepper, fennel) grown in pots under conventional and
organic fertilization systems without and with biostimulants. The aim
was to determine the effects of three biostimulants (Siapton®10L,
Micotech L, Lysodin Alga-Fert) on quali-quantitative yield
characteristics. At harvest, the quali-quantitative yield characteristics
of each crop were determined. All of the experimental data were
subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), and when significant
effects were detected, the means were compared using Tukey’s tests.
These data show large differences in these yield characteristics
between conventional and organic crops, particularly highlighting
higher yields for the conventional crops, while variable results were
generally observed when the biostimulants were applied. In this
context, there were no effects of the biostimulants on the quantitative
yield, whereas there were low positive effects on the qualitative
characteristics, as related to higher dry matter content of cauliflower,
and higher soluble solids content of pepper. Moreover, there were
evident positive effects of the biostimulants with fennel, due to the
lower nitrate content. These latter data are in line with most of the
published literature obtained for other herbaceous crops.", keywords = "Biostimulants, cauliflower, pepper, fennel.", volume = "9", number = "7", pages = "734-5", }