Impact of Foliar-Applied Plant Extracts on Growth, Physiological and Yield Attributes of the Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.)
The current reliance on pesticides and synthetic fertilizers has been vital to sustain and increase agricultural production. The continuous, excessive use of these traditional practices has negatively affected consumer health and burdened the ecosystem. The use of plant extracts as a tool to minimiz...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/1/38 |
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| author | Siphokuhle Mbuyisa Isa Bertling Bonga Lewis Ngcobo |
| author_facet | Siphokuhle Mbuyisa Isa Bertling Bonga Lewis Ngcobo |
| author_sort | Siphokuhle Mbuyisa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The current reliance on pesticides and synthetic fertilizers has been vital to sustain and increase agricultural production. The continuous, excessive use of these traditional practices has negatively affected consumer health and burdened the ecosystem. The use of plant extracts as a tool to minimize agrochemical inputs has been extensively investigated; these extracts have the ability to improve both plant growth and agricultural productivity. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of foliar plant extract application on potato growth, as well as on certain physiological and yield attributes. From four weeks after planting onwards, five healthy, equal-sized potato plants per treatment received various foliar plant extract applications. These extracts included brown seaweed <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> extract (ANE), aloe vera leaf extract (AVE), garlic bulb extract (GBE), and moringa leaf extract (MLE). The treatments were repeated weekly until harvesting. Application data regarding growth and physiological parameters were collected weekly. The pre-harvest foliar application of various plant extracts significantly enhanced (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) the plant growth, physiological, and yield attributes of potatoes. The best growth and yield responses were observed following ANE and MLE application. Plant extracts have shown beneficial effects on other crops as well, but further validation of these effects is still necessary in order to popularize and commercialize such applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:09:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7442b5042aa14f059489ef97b9baa414 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:09:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-7442b5042aa14f059489ef97b9baa4142024-01-26T14:21:49ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-12-011413810.3390/agronomy14010038Impact of Foliar-Applied Plant Extracts on Growth, Physiological and Yield Attributes of the Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.)Siphokuhle Mbuyisa0Isa Bertling1Bonga Lewis Ngcobo2School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South AfricaSchool of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South AfricaDepartment of Horticulture, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South AfricaThe current reliance on pesticides and synthetic fertilizers has been vital to sustain and increase agricultural production. The continuous, excessive use of these traditional practices has negatively affected consumer health and burdened the ecosystem. The use of plant extracts as a tool to minimize agrochemical inputs has been extensively investigated; these extracts have the ability to improve both plant growth and agricultural productivity. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of foliar plant extract application on potato growth, as well as on certain physiological and yield attributes. From four weeks after planting onwards, five healthy, equal-sized potato plants per treatment received various foliar plant extract applications. These extracts included brown seaweed <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> extract (ANE), aloe vera leaf extract (AVE), garlic bulb extract (GBE), and moringa leaf extract (MLE). The treatments were repeated weekly until harvesting. Application data regarding growth and physiological parameters were collected weekly. The pre-harvest foliar application of various plant extracts significantly enhanced (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) the plant growth, physiological, and yield attributes of potatoes. The best growth and yield responses were observed following ANE and MLE application. Plant extracts have shown beneficial effects on other crops as well, but further validation of these effects is still necessary in order to popularize and commercialize such applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/1/38biostimulantsfood securityplant extractspotatosustainable agriculture |
| spellingShingle | Siphokuhle Mbuyisa Isa Bertling Bonga Lewis Ngcobo Impact of Foliar-Applied Plant Extracts on Growth, Physiological and Yield Attributes of the Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) Agronomy biostimulants food security plant extracts potato sustainable agriculture |
| title | Impact of Foliar-Applied Plant Extracts on Growth, Physiological and Yield Attributes of the Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) |
| title_full | Impact of Foliar-Applied Plant Extracts on Growth, Physiological and Yield Attributes of the Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Foliar-Applied Plant Extracts on Growth, Physiological and Yield Attributes of the Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Foliar-Applied Plant Extracts on Growth, Physiological and Yield Attributes of the Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) |
| title_short | Impact of Foliar-Applied Plant Extracts on Growth, Physiological and Yield Attributes of the Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) |
| title_sort | impact of foliar applied plant extracts on growth physiological and yield attributes of the potato i solanum tuberosum i l |
| topic | biostimulants food security plant extracts potato sustainable agriculture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/1/38 |
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