Effect of Enerplant® doses on the development and nutrient use by cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) seedlings

• Bustamante-González, Carlos A ^[1] ; Ferrás-Negrín, Yusdel ^[2] ; Morán-Rodríguez, Norlan ^[1] ; Pérez-Almaguer Andrés F. ^[3] ; Selva-Hernández, Fernando F. ^[4] ; Clappe-Borges Pablo ^[4]
  1. [1] Instituto de Investigaciones Agroforestales, Estación Experimental Agroforestal Tercer Frente, Cruce de los Baños, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, C. P. 92700.
  2. [2] Instituto de Investigaciones Agro-Forestales, Estación Experimental Agro-Forestal Jibacoa, Rincón Naranjo, Manicaragua, Villa Clara, Cuba, C. P. 54590
  3. [3] Universidad de Oriente, Facultad de Ingeniería Química y Agronomía, Avenida Patricio Lumumba s/n, Santiago de Cuba, Provincia de Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
  4. [4] Instituto de Investigaciones Agro-Forestales, Estación Experimental Agro-Forestal Baracoa.

  Mostrar afiliaciones +
• Localización: Agro Productividad, ISSN-e 2594-0252, Vol. 15, Nº. 4, 2022 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Abril), págs. 79-87
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen

  • Objective: To evaluate the effect of the application of biostimulant doses on the development, absorption, and use efficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium by cacao seedlings.

    Design/Methodology/Approach: Five doses of Enerplant® (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mL ha1) were applied to cacao seedlings grown under a saran mesh. The study was carried out using a completely randomized design. The foliar area received a monthly application of the biostimulant. In order to determine the nutrient absorption, 3 plants per treatment were divided into leaves, stems, and roots; they were subsequently dried for 72 h at 65 °C. Finally, they were ground, packaged, labeled, and sent to the laboratory, where the macronutrients of each component were analyzed.

    Results: The cacao seedlings had a positive response to the biostimulant application. In average, the results of our two-year study were: 1 mL ha1 doses of Enerplant® significantly increased height (24%), dry mass (30%), quality index (58%), and foliar area (56%) of the cacao seedlings. Doses higher than 1- and 2-mL ha1decreased plant growth. The nutrient absorption by cacao in the nursery stage followed the following pattern: KNP.

    Findings/Conclusions: The efficiency of nutrient use —regardless of the Enerplant® dose applied— was higher for P, followed by N and, finally, K. Applying 2 mL ha1 doses of the biostimulant guaranteed the highest absorption and use efficiency values of macronutrients by cacao seedlings