An Assessment of Seaweed Extracts: Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture
Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are described in the literature as having a significant role in securing crop management of modern agriculture in conditions of abiotic and biotic stressors. A joint field experiment was carried out to assess the role of seaweed-based extracts in pear trees and to test...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/9/1433 |
| _version_ | 1797553059615735808 |
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| author | Daniel El Chami Fabio Galli |
| author_facet | Daniel El Chami Fabio Galli |
| author_sort | Daniel El Chami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are described in the literature as having a significant role in securing crop management of modern agriculture in conditions of abiotic and biotic stressors. A joint field experiment was carried out to assess the role of seaweed-based extracts in pear trees and to test the “less for more” theory, which consists of getting more and better agricultural produce using fewer innovative inputs. The trials took place on two production seasons (from March till September 2018–2019) and the selected case study was on a pear orchard (<i>Pyrus communis</i> L. cv. Abate Fètel) in Emilia Romagna (Italy) by Fondazione Navarra and Timac Agro Italia S.p.A. Results demonstrate that, depending on the yearly climate conditions, it was possible to substantially reduce the primary nutrients by 35–46% and total fertilisation units applied by 13% and significantly improve quantitative and qualitative production indicators (average weight of fruits (5%) and total yield (19–55%)). Results also confirm a positive correlation between plant growth regulators and agronomic efficiency of pears which increased between five and nine times compared to the conventional nutrition programme. These outcomes constitute scientific evidence for decision making in farm management. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:10:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c1eb19a3b4c341c38518c4f660521108 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:10:59Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-c1eb19a3b4c341c38518c4f6605211082023-11-20T14:31:17ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-09-01109143310.3390/agronomy10091433An Assessment of Seaweed Extracts: Innovation for Sustainable AgricultureDaniel El Chami0Fabio Galli1Timac Agro Italia S.p.A., S.P.13—Località Ca’ Nova, I-26010 Ripalta Arpina (CR), ItalyTimac Agro Italia S.p.A., S.P.13—Località Ca’ Nova, I-26010 Ripalta Arpina (CR), ItalyPlant growth regulators (PGRs) are described in the literature as having a significant role in securing crop management of modern agriculture in conditions of abiotic and biotic stressors. A joint field experiment was carried out to assess the role of seaweed-based extracts in pear trees and to test the “less for more” theory, which consists of getting more and better agricultural produce using fewer innovative inputs. The trials took place on two production seasons (from March till September 2018–2019) and the selected case study was on a pear orchard (<i>Pyrus communis</i> L. cv. Abate Fètel) in Emilia Romagna (Italy) by Fondazione Navarra and Timac Agro Italia S.p.A. Results demonstrate that, depending on the yearly climate conditions, it was possible to substantially reduce the primary nutrients by 35–46% and total fertilisation units applied by 13% and significantly improve quantitative and qualitative production indicators (average weight of fruits (5%) and total yield (19–55%)). Results also confirm a positive correlation between plant growth regulators and agronomic efficiency of pears which increased between five and nine times compared to the conventional nutrition programme. These outcomes constitute scientific evidence for decision making in farm management.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/9/1433pear treesPGRsustainable developmentcrop nutritionfertiliserTimac Agro Italia |
| spellingShingle | Daniel El Chami Fabio Galli An Assessment of Seaweed Extracts: Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture Agronomy pear trees PGR sustainable development crop nutrition fertiliser Timac Agro Italia |
| title | An Assessment of Seaweed Extracts: Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture |
| title_full | An Assessment of Seaweed Extracts: Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture |
| title_fullStr | An Assessment of Seaweed Extracts: Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Assessment of Seaweed Extracts: Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture |
| title_short | An Assessment of Seaweed Extracts: Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture |
| title_sort | assessment of seaweed extracts innovation for sustainable agriculture |
| topic | pear trees PGR sustainable development crop nutrition fertiliser Timac Agro Italia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/9/1433 |
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