Development of a Technical Itinerary for the Production of Avocado (<i>Persea américana</i> Mill.) Seedlings with Biofertilizers

Abstract

The cultivation of fruit trees generally requires a nursery phase during which the young seedlings are monitored and treated to improve their ability to adapt to the environment. This leads to the production of seedlings that are used to create orchards. It consists of four essential steps or operations: 1) The germination phase of the seeds in germinators for the production of rootstocks; 2) Transplanting into pots or bags; 3) Fertilisation in order to obtain seedlings of a satisfactory vigour (stem diameter) ready for grafting. The nursery phase requires a good understanding and mastery of plant regeneration and fertilisation techniques. In Cameroon, the demand for avocado (Persea americana) fruits is increasing, but the supply is not keeping up with this demand. After a summary monograph on the production practices of avocado seedlings in the Yaounde area, this work aims to optimise the aforementioned three steps in order to obtain seedlings of sufficient sizes for grafting. Three factors are considered in this study: 1) The substrate (Substrate), whose effects are evaluated by the germination rate (GR), the daily average germination (DAG) and the root volume of seedlings (RootV). 2) The transplanting date (TransD), determined by considering three dates including 40 (Trans40), 65 (Trans65) and 75 (Trans75) days after sowing, and 3) Fertilisation using biological fertilisers, evaluated by testing four fertilisation levels, Fert1 (10 gr of 20-10-10 plus 10 gr fowl droppings), Fert2 (Acaulospora tuberculata), Fert3 (Gigaspora margarita) and Fert4 (Mixed mycorrhizal strains of Gigaspora margarita and Acaulospora tuberculata). This third factor is evaluated by growth parameters including leaf area (LeafA), chlorophyll index (ChlorInd), gain in Plant height (GainPltH) and plant diameter (GainPltD).

Optimal growth conditions for avocado (Persea americana Mill.) seedlings using biofertilizer-based approach with biosurfactant diethanolamide palm olein and neem extract

“…Sukamto et al (2014) melaporkan pemberian pupuk hayati memberikan hasil yang terbaik terhadap pertumbuhan diameter batang alpukat pada bulan ke-9 (44.39 mm) hingga bulan ke-17 (54.71). Mahbou et al (2022) melaporkan pemberian pupuk hayati pada pembibitan alpukat memberikan pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap parameter luas daun dengan kandungan nitrogen yang dapat meningkatkan kloroplas dan luas daun. Berdasarkan uraian di atas, penelitian ini dilakukan bertujuan untuk mengetahui dosis dan metode aplikasi terbaik pada pertumbuhan bibit alpukat dari kombinasi penggunaan pupuk hayati, biosurfaktan dietanolamida olein kelapa sawit, dan ekstrak mimba.…”