Exogenously applied nitrogenous fertilizers and effective microorganisms improve plant growth of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) and soil fertility

Mohamed Ahmed Youssef,Hazem M Kalaji,Wacław Roman Strobel,Sobhi F Lamlom,Muhammad Moaaz Ali,Ahmed Fathy Yousef,Alshaymaa I Ahmed

doi:10.1186/s13568-021-01292-8

Abstract

The effects of different fertilizers and biofertilizers on crop production to increase plant growth, improve quality and yield components (dry leaves yield, leaf protein, and stevioside) of crops has been extensively studied. However, the combination of both types of fertilizers have rarely been investigated. To explore the effect of different fertilizers and biofertilizers on stevia plant, a two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the growth response of stevia plants under the influence of nitrogenous fertilizers (NFs) and effective microorganisms (EM). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design, with EM as the main plot factor (−EM and +EM) and NFs as the subplot factor [control, chemical NFs (Ch-N) and organic NFs (Org-N)]. The results showed that, plants treated with EM and Org-N showed 2-, 2.2-, 2.4-, 2.5-, 3.3- and 3-fold increases in plant height, number of branches, total leaf area, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight and leaf dry yield, respectively, compared to untreated plants. Similarly, plants receiving EM along with Ch-N showed 1.86-, 1.7-, 2.2-, 2.12-, 3-, and 2.72-fold increases in the same traits. Total chlorophyll, protein, N, P, K and sativoside contents were increased by 88.8, 152, 138, 151.5, 43 and 137.5% when EM and Org-N were applied to stevia plants. Application of EM together with Ch-N increased these properties by 0.5, 127.7, 115, 216, 42.6 and 83.8%, respectively in the same traits. Overall, the combined application of NFs and EM improved growth, yield and nutrient accumulation in stevia plants.

Highlights

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is one of nearly 300 plant species belonging to the genus Stevia present all over the world, is known as the sweetest plant, sweet leaf, honey yerba, etc
The plants treated with organic NFs (Org-N) showed better plant height (56.58 cm), number of branches per plant (41.83), plant fresh weight (117.22 g), plant dry weight (31.43 g), leaves area per plant (1305.9 cm2) and dry leaves yield (859.58 kg ha−1) as compared to untreated plants and those treated with chemical NFs (Ch-N)
The plants treated with Org-N, being best treatment showed 2.04, 2.28, 1.97, 2.13, 3.14, and 3.05-fold increase in same attributes as compared to untreated plants and those treated with Ch-N

Summary

Introduction

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is one of nearly 300 plant species belonging to the genus Stevia present all over the world, is known as the sweetest plant, sweet leaf, honey yerba, etc It was originated from South America, officially discovered by Bertoni in 1905, belonging to the Asteraceae family (Das et al 2007; Zaman et al 2015b). The plant is cultivated in several countries including Japan, China, India, Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Russia, Tanzania, Indonesia, Hawaii, Canada, Malaysia and Egypt (Rios and Recio 2005). It has become a popular natural source of high potency sweetener, dietary supplement and pharmaceutical products. It has numerous health benefits against diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cancer, oxidative stress, and microbial infections

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