Efectos de bioestimulantes en la fase de semillero en cuatro especies hortícolas en condiciones semiprotegidas

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of biostimulants on the germination and early development of four horticultural species (Solanum lycopersicum L., Cucumis sativus L., Capsicum annuum L., and Citrullus lanatus L.) under semi-protected seedbed conditions. The research was conducted at the Technical University of Manabí, Ecuador, using an experimental design with five treatments, including leachates and effective microorganisms. Variables such as germination, chlorophyll content, seedling height, and diameter were analyzed. The results revealed that all treatments significantly outperformed the control in yield, regardless of seasonal climatic variations between experiments. Notably, the application of leachate and effective microorganisms increased chlorophyll content in all four species, with means between 30.1 and 34.4, compared to 11.5 to 20.8 in the control. After 30 days of sowing, significant differences were observed in seedling height and diameter, with biostimulants showing statistically superior values to the control. Leachate in a 1:10 ratio and effective microorganisms in 2:10 proved to be particularly effective in promoting seedling growth and development. The studied biostimulants offer a promising alternative for improving sustainable horticultural production, increasing efficiency in nutrient absorption, and potentially enhancing stress tolerance in early growth stages.