Resumen de Effect of Enerplant® doses on the development and nutrient use by cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) seedlings
Carlos Alberto Bustamante González, Yusdel Ferrás Negrín, Norlan Morán Rodríguez, Pérez Almaguer Andrés F., Fernando F. Selva Hernández, Clappe Borges Pablo
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
