Abstract

RODRIGUEZ-ARROBO, Thalia et al. Effects of biostimulants on the morphological growth of cocoa seedlings at the nursery stage. Manglar [online]. 2023, vol.20, n.2, pp.117-122.  Epub July 05, 2023. ISSN 1816-7667.  http://dx.doi.org/10.57188/manglar.2023.013.

Biostimulants help cocoa plants to improve vegetative development and nutrient uptake, therefore, the objective was to evaluate the effects of biostimulants on morphological growth in cocoa seedlings in nursery stage, through a completely randomized experimental design with four treatments (T1: control, T2: humic acids + fulvic acids, T3: silicon oxide + monosilicic acid; and T4: marine algae + humic and fulvic acids) and four replicates. The results showed no significant differences in variables such as plant height (T4: 29.63 cm), number of leaves (T2: 25.19) and root length (T2: 37.23 cm). Significant differences were found in stem diameter (T3: 7.08 cm) and root dry mass (T4: 8.67 g). The biostimulants showed positive results in nutritional elements at foliar level, improving the values of N, P, K, Zn, Mn, Mg, Ca and Fe. Likewise, there was a decrease in Cu and Na values. These results support the hypothesis that biostimulants help cocoa plants to improve vegetative development and nutrient uptake, reducing plant losses and improving plant nutrition at the nursery stage.

Keywords : Biostimulants; SPAD; plant stimulation; morphological characteristics.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )