Efficiency of Garden Waste Compost Teas on Potato Growth and Its Suppressiveness Against Rhizoctonia

Abstract

Compost teas are organic solutions obtained by the fermentation of compost in a liquid phase for a few days, with or without aeration. The use of these teas in agriculture is emerging for supplementing or substituting fertilizers and for their ability to suppress soil-borne pathogens. In this study physical and chemical characterization of garden waste compost tea, its application effects on potato growth and its suppressive effect against Rhizoctonia solani were analyzed. N and K content were relevant (3200 and 3848 ppm, respectively). Humic acid level was 190 mg L -1 . Field trials were carried out with three fried industrial cultivars (Agria, Hermes and Lady Amarilla) in soils affected by Rhizoctonia located in Rasueros municipality (Avila, Spain) during 2017. Different dosages of compost tea (d1:1l and d2:3l per plot-7.5m 2 ) were applied in experimental potato crops, in order to evaluate growth and production parameters (plant height, SPA units, shoots number, yield, tuber size and fried quality) and the Rhizoctonia solani control (attack severity). The application of the dosage 1 (1333,3 l ha -1 ), with respect to control, increased the yield (9,47%), improved the culinary quality (40 %) and reduced the Rhizoctonia incidence (12,4-23,7%). These results show that the use of garden waste compost tea can be of great interest to organic and sustainable agriculture.

The Influence of Unconventional Mineral Fertilizers Based on the Processing of K-Mg Ores on Yield and Quality of Seed Potato, as Well as Soil Fertility Parameters

“…It may be considered the variety peculiarity. The same results were obtained by other researches (López-Martín, et al, 2018). The content of the seed fraction in the yield slightly decreased in comparison with the control because of the increase of large tubers number.…”

Effect of Compost Tea in Horticulture

“…Treatments with aerated CTs increase by 24% and 32% production of lettuce and kohlrabi, respectively, cultivated under greenhouse [20]. Positive effects on the growth and production of pepper [5,14,39] and on potato [40][41][42][43] were registered in different experiments and locations. Villecco et al [44] have registered positive effects on growth parameters and vegetative development on tomato, pepper, and melon plantlets cultivated in nurseries.…”

“…Increase growth and production characters (plant height, shoots high, yield, tuber size, and weight, number of tubers per plant, fried quality) and chlorophyll content (SPA units) [41] CT from a compost of olive oil mill wastewater, olive pomace, coffee grounds, and phosphogypsum Potato Increase plant growth [42] CT from the compost of grass cuttings and pruning debris, leaves and branches of mainly cypress, willow and poplar trees…”

“…Table 2 reports a number of examples of the biocontrol activity of CTs on vegetable crops. CT from compost of green and pruning residues Potato Suppressive effect on Rhizoctonia solani [41] CT from compost of grass cuttings and pruning debris (leaves and branches of cypress, willow and poplar trees)…”