Acceleration of the decomposition of Sicilian lemon leaves as an auxiliary measure in the control of citrus black spot

Abstract

In the current study, various treatments were used in the acceleration of decomposition in Sicilian lemon leaves as an auxiliary measure to control citrus black spot. The treatments tested were: 1) urea (12.5 g/L); 2) calcium nitrate (12.5 g/L); 3) dolomitic limestone (2 t/ha); 4) Embiotic® (commercial composting accelerator - 1% of the activated product); 5) Soil-Set® + Compostaid® (0.75 mL/L + 0.75 g/L; and 6) control. Treatments 1, 2, 4, and 5 were applied in solution under the plant's crowns (800 L/ha), while dolomitic limestone was applied to only one side of the plant using a drop spreader. The most efficient treatment in reducing leaf weight was with urea, calcium nitrate and Soil-Set® + Compostaid®. In relation to cellulose, Embiotic® and Soil-Set® + Compostaid® reduced the same content showing a high efficiency in the decomposition rate of the lemon leaves. As for the dehydrogenase activity, there was an increase in the first and second evaluations, followed by a reduction in the second and third observations, amounting to 9.90% for dolomitic limestone, and 72.41% for the control. The results showed the viability of accelerating decomposition of citrus leaves fallen on the soil as a supplementary control measure for Guignardia citricarpa.