BIOSTIMULANT EFFECT OF DIGESTATE AND EFFICIENT MICROORGANISMS ON LACTUCA SATIVA IN SOIL WITH AND WITHOUT SALINITY

Abstract

Introduction:
The production of biofertilizer from biodigester effluents contributes to the change of approach in agro-productive systems, in function of the necessary energetic, ecological and circularity transition in the agricultural sector. The digestate obtained from biodigester effluents constitutes a biofertilizer with high nutritional value. On the other hand, the application of efficient microorganisms has been effective in the morphophysiological response of several crops. The combined use of both bioproducts and their effect on germination under salinity conditions has been little reported.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of digestate alone and combined with efficient microorganisms on the morphophysiological response of the lettuce crop (Lactuca sativa) in soils with and without salinity.
Materials and Methods:
A simple randomized experimental design (Statgraphics Centurion XVIII Software) was used, with three repetitions per treatment, in floating trays and in the field, with two lettuce varieties (Riza 15 and Fomento 95), using digestate and the commercial bioproduct Efficient Microorganisms.
Results and Discussion:
The application of digestate on the Fomento 95 variety allowed 80 % germination. A significantly positive effect of the digestate, alone and combined with efficient microorganisms, was obtained, reflected in the net assimilation rate, in soils with and without salinity. It presupposes the biostimulation of the response of cultivars under salinity conditions.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that both bioproducts can be used as biostimulants, as they promote the growth and development of plants such as lettuce in soils with and without salinity.