Growth of tomato seedlings in substrates containing a nanocomposite hydrogel with calcium montmorillonite (NC-MMt)

Abstract

The correct use of hydrogels in some situations can increase seedling survival rates, plant growth, and the water-retention capacity of the growing medium. A technique for the production of a nanocomposite hydrogel using calcium montmorillonite (NC-MMt) was recently developed. However, additional research is necessary in order to validate this innovative input, particularly for the production of vegetable crops seedlings. In this context, the main objective of the present study was to evaluate the growth and development of seedlings, tomato hybrid ‘BRS Nagai’, in substrates containing different amendments of hydrogel NC-MMt. The trial was conducted in a 3x3 factorial arranged in a complete randomized blocks design, with three replications. Three substrates (peat moss, pine bark, and coconut peat) corresponded to the first factor and three rates of the NC-MMt hydrogel (0%= R1, 1.5%= R2 and 2.0%= R3, on a w/w basis) corresponded to the second factor. Each plot was composed of 16 plants that were assessed after three weeks. Overall, peat moss-based and pine bark-based substrates resulted in higher values for most of the analyzed traits: plant emergency percentage, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, plant height/shoot dry weight ratio, root dry weight, shoot dry weight/root dry weight ratio and the Dickinson Quality Index. Rates of NC-MMt hydrogel displayed significant responses only to root superficial area and root volume. NC-MMt hydrogel amendment (mainly 1.5%) combined with specific substrates (mainly peat moss-based substrate) was able to improve the growth of ‘BRS Nagai’ tomato seedlings, with no observed toxic effects.

Inoculación De Bacterias Promotoras De Crecimiento Vegetal Y Su Efecto en Ecotipos De Tomate

“…Dyśko et al (2020) usaron lana roca como sustrato en tomate con pH de 7.5 y observaron mayor rendimiento de frutos. Melo et al (2019) utilizaron sustrato de fibra de coco con pH 6.0 y reportaron mayor materia seca de planta y raíz en tomate. El pH del sustrato que se utilizó en el experimento se encuentra dentro de los valores reportados por Melo et al (2019) y Dyśko et al (2020).…”

Use of Nanocomposite Hydrogel With N-Urea in the Production of Eggplant Seedlings

“…For the stem diameter, a significant trait for the establishment of seedlings after transplanting, so that they do not bend with the action of the wind or may come to resist abiotic stresses during this stage (Luna et al, 2014;Melo et al, 2019b), there was no adjustment of a model that establishes a better dosage. For the ratio between seedling height and stem diameter (HDR), there is the same trend of the superiority of treatments with hydrogel with N-urea compared to controls.…”

“…Among the several technologies adopted in the seedling production system in multicellular trays (Jorge et al, 2019a), the addition of polymers to the substrate, which acts as water conditioners, increase the water retention capacity and provide a better seedling quality (Melo et al, 2019b). These polymers, which can be natural or synthetic, are capable of absorbing large amounts of water in their three-dimensional structure, without dissolving completely, forming hydrogels.…”

Alternativas De Controle De Verminose Em Ovinos

“…Sementes tratadas com Trichoderma apresentam aumento no desenvolvimento e consequentemente no rendimento da planta, isso porque a produção de fitohormônios por este agente biológico, aprimora as atividades metabólicas que envolvem o crescimento, estabelecendo um maior aproveitamento dos recursos disponíveis (BENÍTEZ et al, 2004;BORTOLIN et al, 2019).…”