Biostimulant Application under Different Nitrogen Fertilization Levels: Assessment of Yield, Leaf Quality, and Nitrogen Metabolism of Tunnel-Grown Lettuce
Promising strategies that could aid a shift from N-intensive agriculture to an eco-friendlier approach include the integrated use of plant-based biostimulants. To date, results about the accumulation of nitrate in green leafy vegetables due to biostimulant application are conflicting. Therefore, the...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/8/1613 |
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| author | Lucia Ottaiano Ida Di Mola Eugenio Cozzolino Christophe El-Nakhel Youssef Rouphael Mauro Mori |
| author_facet | Lucia Ottaiano Ida Di Mola Eugenio Cozzolino Christophe El-Nakhel Youssef Rouphael Mauro Mori |
| author_sort | Lucia Ottaiano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Promising strategies that could aid a shift from N-intensive agriculture to an eco-friendlier approach include the integrated use of plant-based biostimulants. To date, results about the accumulation of nitrate in green leafy vegetables due to biostimulant application are conflicting. Therefore, the current study aimed at assessing the effect of a new plant-based biostimulant, containing triacontanol (TRIA), that is claimed to reduce nitrate accumulation in leaves, based on the yield and leaf quality of lettuce grown in a plastic tunnel under different N conditions. The experimental design was a factorial combination of three nitrogen fertilization levels (N0, N30, and N60, corresponding to 0, 30, and 60 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>) and two biostimulant applications (treated with ‘ILSASTIM+’ = YB and untreated control = NB). Nitrogen fertilization resulted in a 40% yield increase over N0. Biostimulant application increased the yield 21% over NB, and both improved all growth parameters. In addition, the biostimulant had a positive effect on color and Soil Plant Analysis development (SPAD) index, thus enhancing the qualitative aspect. Interestingly, biostimulant application boosted nitrogen use efficiency with a 23% increase over untreated plants. The use of biostimulant proved to be suitable to be applied in a sustainable strategy of production and quality improvement. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:05:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa347f4d2a3f45eb9e5b6067dc137e21 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:05:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa347f4d2a3f45eb9e5b6067dc137e212023-11-22T06:26:25ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-08-01118161310.3390/agronomy11081613Biostimulant Application under Different Nitrogen Fertilization Levels: Assessment of Yield, Leaf Quality, and Nitrogen Metabolism of Tunnel-Grown LettuceLucia Ottaiano0Ida Di Mola1Eugenio Cozzolino2Christophe El-Nakhel3Youssef Rouphael4Mauro Mori5Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyCouncil for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA)-Research Center for Cereal and Industrial Crops, 81100 Caserta, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyPromising strategies that could aid a shift from N-intensive agriculture to an eco-friendlier approach include the integrated use of plant-based biostimulants. To date, results about the accumulation of nitrate in green leafy vegetables due to biostimulant application are conflicting. Therefore, the current study aimed at assessing the effect of a new plant-based biostimulant, containing triacontanol (TRIA), that is claimed to reduce nitrate accumulation in leaves, based on the yield and leaf quality of lettuce grown in a plastic tunnel under different N conditions. The experimental design was a factorial combination of three nitrogen fertilization levels (N0, N30, and N60, corresponding to 0, 30, and 60 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>) and two biostimulant applications (treated with ‘ILSASTIM+’ = YB and untreated control = NB). Nitrogen fertilization resulted in a 40% yield increase over N0. Biostimulant application increased the yield 21% over NB, and both improved all growth parameters. In addition, the biostimulant had a positive effect on color and Soil Plant Analysis development (SPAD) index, thus enhancing the qualitative aspect. Interestingly, biostimulant application boosted nitrogen use efficiency with a 23% increase over untreated plants. The use of biostimulant proved to be suitable to be applied in a sustainable strategy of production and quality improvement.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/8/1613nitrateplant-derived amino acidsFabaceae enzymatic hydrolysis<i>Lactuca sativa</i> L.NUEnutritional quality |
| spellingShingle | Lucia Ottaiano Ida Di Mola Eugenio Cozzolino Christophe El-Nakhel Youssef Rouphael Mauro Mori Biostimulant Application under Different Nitrogen Fertilization Levels: Assessment of Yield, Leaf Quality, and Nitrogen Metabolism of Tunnel-Grown Lettuce Agronomy nitrate plant-derived amino acids Fabaceae enzymatic hydrolysis <i>Lactuca sativa</i> L. NUE nutritional quality |
| title | Biostimulant Application under Different Nitrogen Fertilization Levels: Assessment of Yield, Leaf Quality, and Nitrogen Metabolism of Tunnel-Grown Lettuce |
| title_full | Biostimulant Application under Different Nitrogen Fertilization Levels: Assessment of Yield, Leaf Quality, and Nitrogen Metabolism of Tunnel-Grown Lettuce |
| title_fullStr | Biostimulant Application under Different Nitrogen Fertilization Levels: Assessment of Yield, Leaf Quality, and Nitrogen Metabolism of Tunnel-Grown Lettuce |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biostimulant Application under Different Nitrogen Fertilization Levels: Assessment of Yield, Leaf Quality, and Nitrogen Metabolism of Tunnel-Grown Lettuce |
| title_short | Biostimulant Application under Different Nitrogen Fertilization Levels: Assessment of Yield, Leaf Quality, and Nitrogen Metabolism of Tunnel-Grown Lettuce |
| title_sort | biostimulant application under different nitrogen fertilization levels assessment of yield leaf quality and nitrogen metabolism of tunnel grown lettuce |
| topic | nitrate plant-derived amino acids Fabaceae enzymatic hydrolysis <i>Lactuca sativa</i> L. NUE nutritional quality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/8/1613 |
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