Growth, yield, and postharvest quality in eggplant produced under different foliar fertilizer (Spirulina platensis) treatments

Abstract

This study evaluated the growth, yield, and postharvest quality of eggplant grown under different foliar fertilizer treatments with Spirufert® (Spirulina platensis). The treatments consisted of four fertilizer concentrations applied at four phenological stages: M1 (10, 15, 25, and 35 g L -1 ), M2 (15, 20, 30, and 40 g L -1 ), M3 (20, 25, 35, and 45 g L -1 ), and M4 (control plants, water spraying only). For Postharvest experiments were conducted in a 4 x 5 factorial design corresponding to the four treatments in the field experiment and five storage times. Spirufert® applied at lower concentrations (M1) resulted in greater fruit yield without affecting the foliar concentrations of N, P, K, and Na. Higher fertilizer concentrations (M3) increased vegetative growth but reduced eggplant yield. Fruit color parameters and soluble solids contents were not affected by fertilizer application, but pulp firmness was more stable in M1 fruits stored for up to six days. Key words: Solanum melongena. Microalgae. Biofertilizer. Postharvest conservation. ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar o crescimento, a produção e a qualidade pós-colheita da berinjela em função de manejos (M) de aplicação foliar com Spirufert® (Spirulina platensis). Os manejos foram constituídos por quatro concentrações do produto, aplicadas em quatro fases fenológicas da cultura, sendo o M1 constituído por pulverizações nas concentrações de 10, 15, 25 e 35 g L -1 ; o M2 correspondeu às concentrações de 15, 20, 30 e 40 g L -1 ; o M3 por 20, 25, 35 e 45 e g L -1 e o M4 correspondeu à testemunha. Para o ensaio de pós-colheita, os tratamentos corresponderam a um esquema fatorial 4 x 5, correspondente aos quatro tratamentos originados do experimento de campo e cinco períodos de armazenamento. O Spirufert® aplicado em concentrações mais baixas (M1) proporciona maior produção de frutos, sem influenciar os teores foliares de N, P, K e Na da cultura. Concentrações mais elevadas do produto (M3) favorecem o desenvolvimento vegetativo da berinjela em detrimento da produção. O produto não afeta a cor do fruto nem seus sólidos solúveis, porém o manejo M1 proporciona maior estabilidade na firmeza dos frutos durante o seu armazenamento de até seis dias. Palavras-chave: Solanum melongena. Microalga. Biofertilizante. Conservação pós-colheita.

Microalgal Biostimulants and Biofertilisers in Crop Productions

“…Some studies found a positive effect of microalgae fertilisers, especially when applied to the leaves of horticultural and ornamental crops such as aubergine (Solanum melongena L.), garlic, pepper, tomato and petunia [3,14,40,85,128,151]. Plant responses to nutrients supplied via foliar sprays are normally more rapid than when applied as a soil amendment [167].…”

“…showed higher N, P, and K contents, especially at 5 g L −1 compared to the untreated plants. However, Dias et al [3] found that foliar application of Arthrospira spp. at low concentrations (10 g L −1 ) did not affect the leaf content of N, P, K, and Na in aubergine.…”

“…at low concentrations (10 g L −1 ) did not affect the leaf content of N, P, K, and Na in aubergine. In the study conducted by Dias et al [3], the growth, yield, and postharvest quality of aubergine grown under different foliar fertiliser treatments with Spirufert ® (Tamanduá, Brasil) containing Arthrospira spp., were also investigated. Spirufert ® applied at low concentrations (10 g L −1 ) resulted in greater fruit yield.…”

“…Currently, considering the growing global population, among agricultural issues, a crucial challenge is to meet food demands, improving agricultural sustainability [1,2]. Hence, whilst farmers are called to increase agricultural production along with issues related to climate change, researchers must be called to develop innovative products and technologies able to increase crop yields and quality, while decreasing their agricultural carbon footprint [3][4][5].…”

Biomass of Microalgae via Root Under the Production of Yellow Passionfruit Seedlings

“…Our result corroborates those of Rocha et al (2017), that found that the use of Spirulina platensis at low concentrations (1%) provides an improvement in the productive performance and influence on the water use efficiency (E/A) of papaya seedlings. According to Dias, Rocha, Araújo, Lima, and Guedes (2016) studying the application of Spirufert®, a product based on Spirulina platensis, 10 g L -1 applications provide a higher yield of Vol. 11, No.…”