Abstract
The application of alternative fertilizers to the soil in a sustainable way in order to supply nutrients to plants is important for growers and for the environment. Calcareous algae, Lithothamnion calcareum (Lit), is considered an alternative fertilizer because it is rich in nutrients, particularly magnesium and calcium, that are essential for plants. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different formulations, doses and fertilization intervals of L. calcareum on growth of melon plants. Two experiments were performed. The first experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of various formulations and doses of Lit on the growth of melon plants. The second experiment was carried out to evaluate the use of formulations and fertilization intervals of Lit. Formulations and doses of Lit had a significant effect on the efficiency in the development of melon plants. No impact was observed when using a concentrated suspension of Lit. However, four applications of Lit nanoparticle formulations every 7 days increased the growth of melon plants at doses close to 1 kg ha-1. We provide the first data related to beneficial effects on melon growth of L. calcareum, in different formulations, application intervals and doses, applied to red-yellow soil.
Highlights
Calcareous algae have been used over time as corrective material on the French, English and Irish coasts to correct the acidic and/or calcium deficient soils
The analysis of the orthogonal contrasts indicates a significant effect at P < 0.05 among the different Lithothamnion calcareum (Lit) formulations (CS, PM and nano) for most of the variables analyzed in the different contrasts (Table 1)
Lit nano applied at doses of 1.2; 5.2; 1.2; 3.12 and 1.0 kg ha-1 showed maximum root dry matter (RDM) values of 17.88 cm of H; 44.76 cm of root length (RL); 3.72 g of shoot fresh matter (SFM); 3.12 g of root fresh matter (RFM) and 0.1 g, respectively (Fig. 2). These results suggest that L. calcareum in the nanoparticle formulation exerts a corrective action on the acidity of the substrate
Summary
Calcareous algae have been used over time as corrective material on the French, English and Irish coasts to correct the acidic and/or calcium deficient soils. In these regions, the product is known as “Calcified Seaweed” or “Mäerl”. Ancient studies report its use since 1186 (Le Bleu, 1983). France is the world's largest producer of bioclastic and lithoclast granulates for industrial use (Dias, 2000). In Brazil a large continental shelf of North-Northeast limestone algae was discovered in the 1960’s by researchers from the Oceanographic Institute of the Federal University of Pelotas. According to Kempf (1974), the potential exploration of the platform is comparable to the French “Mäerl”
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