Abstract
The development of novel biomaterials based on plant extracts is expected to boost yields without adversely affecting environmental diversity. The potential biostimulating effects have so far been underreported. The assessment of the stimulating effect of botanical biomaterials is essential in the cultivation of economically-important crops. An attempt was undertaken in this study to develop a new biostimulating material in the form of granules, based on an extract from the roots of Arctium lappa L. The scope of the research included the characterization of the new material and the identification of its biostimulating potential. The designed and produced biogranulate is rich in bioactive compounds, including polyphenolic compounds, carbohydrates, and micro- and macro-elements. The analysis of the physicochemical properties of the biomaterial has shown that it had the features of intelligent biopreparations, i.e., slow-release preparations, at the pH appropriate for legume plants. Thus, knowledge about the design of new biomaterials is a milestone in the practical development of new perspectives for enhancing sustainability in agriculture.
Highlights
Synthetic chemical fertilizers are commonly used in agricultural practice as inexpensive agents, ensuring the immediate availability of nutrients to crops
Infusions from burdock were prepared using the hot extraction method, i.e., 10 g of ground roots of Arctium lappa L. were added to 250 mL of distilled water
Oancea et al [37] made similar observations when producing a biostimulant with Trichoderma strains. Their investigation showed a pH of approximately 6 to be optimal to ensure desired effects of novel biomaterials in real field conditions. Such a pH value is essential to legumes, like soybean, which strongly respond to acidification, with optimal pH values for their growth and development ranging from 6.0 to 7.5 [44]
Summary
Synthetic chemical fertilizers are commonly used in agricultural practice as inexpensive agents, ensuring the immediate availability of nutrients to crops. The first attempts of using organic fertilizers (manure or post-harvest residues) proved that, in some way, they can make agriculture independent of chemical fertilizers, they still fall short in sufficiently meeting plant demands for nutrients and minerals [3]. The use of biostimulants, representing a group of plant growth and development promoters not defined as fertilizers, seems to offer a prospective approach to aid sustainable agriculture. Biostimulating agents include, i.a., extracts from seaweeds, protein hydrolysates, and plant extracts. Investigations concerning plant extracts and focusing mainly on the extraction of bioactive compounds intended for pharmaceutical, food, or medical industries have recently spurred great interest.
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