Application of municipal biowaste derived products in Hibiscus cultivation: Effect on leaf gaseous exchange activity, and plant biomass accumulation and quality

Abstract

Highlights•Fermented organic materials and their hydrolysates were tested on substrate-grown Hibiscus.•Positive effects were observed on total biomass, plant height, SPAD index and net photosynthesis compared with untreated plants.•Tested products performed at the same level of a commercial product.•Obtained results represent a step forward for the application of biowaste hydrolysates in intensive substrate cultures. AbstractTwo urban biowaste materials, fermented under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, their soluble and insoluble alkaline hydrolysates, and a commercial biostimulant product, were compared for their capacity to boost Hibiscus crop production and quality. Plants were grown in 4-litre pots, containing peat and pumice as substrate, under optimal growing conditions. A randomized-block experimental design was adopted. Two types (main factors of variability) of treatments were applied, i.e. by blending the above products with the substrate at transplant, and by fertigation using the soluble hydrolysates only. Plant biomass characteristics and ecophysiological parameters were measured. Mean effect of factors and their interactions were assessed by two-way ANOVA. Principal component analysis was performed by using the different dependent variables to summarize the most relevant differences among treatments. Compared with the control (untreated plants), the applied treatments enhanced most of the investigated parameters. The most valuable effects were observed for total biomass accumulation (+25%), plant height (+10%), leaf chlorophyll SPAD index (+15%) and net photosynthesis (+24%). The hydrolysates performed better than the pristine materials. The former ones were comparable to the commercial biostimulant. The results confirmed the hypothesis that biowaste derived products induce biostimulant activity on Hibiscus; their application can improve cultivation sustainability. ); SD, soluble digestate hydrolysate obtained from the alkaline hydrolysis of D; SGC, soluble compost hydrolysate obtained from the alkaline hydrolysis of GC; SUB, treatments applied to the substrate as a powder blended with the substrate; T 1 , beginning of the experimentation (30 days after transplant) (day)

Plant Biostimulants: Importance of the Quality and Yield of Horticultural Crops and the Improvement of Plant Tolerance to Abiotic Stress—A Review

“…The increase in the chlorophyll content combined with the increased intensity of the photosynthesis process was noted during the cultivation of Hibiscus treated with biostimulants formed in the process of the hydrolysis of waste. A 15% increase in the chlorophyll content of leaves resulted in a 24% increase in the photosynthesis rate compared to the control [62].…”

Extruded Poly(ethylene–co–vinyl alcohol) Composite Films Containing Biopolymers Isolated from Municipal Biowaste

“…The process does not require secondary waste treatment. The performance of the above SLP has been studied in diversified fields of the chemical industry, agriculture and animal husbandry.…”

“…Moreover, for use in specific application requiring higher strength, the SPP blends exhibiting lower modulus could be fabricated with higher thickness to achieve the same strength and assure the same performance as the higher modulus materials during service. In this context, taking in consideration the properties of the SLP as biostimulant for plant growth, the most intriguing application and potentially most feasible application of the SLP blends appears the manufacture of mulch films.…”

“…In these films, the synthetic polymer provides the required mechanical properties and is compatible with the lignocellulosic fillers by virtue of its hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. In the case of the SLP composites, considering the SLP properties as biostimulants for plant cultivation, the manufacturing of blended SLP mulch films offers the intriguing perspective to perform a dual function with the same material, i. e. assure protection of the cultivation soil and, during and/or at the end of its service life, to promote soil fertilization.…”

Transcriptome-Wide Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes in Solanum lycopersicon L. in Response to an Alfalfa-Protein Hydrolysate Using Microarrays

“…The effects of HS in plants depend on their concentration, molecular weight, chemical-physical properties, as well as on their hormone-like activity (Dell’Agnola and Nardi, 1987; Nardi et al, 1994; Mora et al, 2012; Ertani et al, 2013; Baglieri et al, 2014; Massa et al, 2016) and capacity to stimulate plant nitrogen (N) assimilation (Quaggiotti et al, 2004). HS generally stimulate root growth, especially in the early stages of plant development (Canellas et al, 2002; Zandonadi et al, 2007; Vaccaro et al, 2009; Mora et al, 2010).…”