Processing of Salvinia auriculata biomass by semi-solid fermentation and green mechanochemical synthesis as agricultural inputs

Abstract

Currently, the biomass of various plant species is being utilized to produce high-value agricultural inputs, and the technique of green mechanochemical synthesis is employed in this process due to its relatively simple nature. This technique utilizes biomass to produce new biologically active compounds with properties such as biofertilizers, biostimulants, and bioinsecticides. In the present study, Salvinia auriculata biomass was used to obtain a valuable plant substrate and subsequently processed to be applied in vegetable crops for productivity improvement in field conditions. The Salvinia biomass was subjected to semi-solid fermentation, resulting in an organic substrate. This substrate was tested for the germination of melon (Cucumis melo L.) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seeds, demonstrating excellent results when compared to commercial substrates. Comparing melon seedlings grew on different commercial substrates with Salvinia substrate, the germination index (GI), germination speed index (GSI), number of leaves (NL), aerial part length (APL), root of length (RL), aerial part fresh mass (APFM), root fresh mass (RFM), aerial part dry mass (APDM) and root dry mass (RDM) presented, respectively, an increase of 35%, 42.79%, 52%, 56.72%, 143.4%, 97%, 111.4%, 112%, 49.5% and 103%, demonstrating that Salvinia substrate is superior to the commercial substrates evaluated. Similar results were obtained for watermelon plants grew on Salvinia substrate. Subsequently, a bionanofertilizer (BNF) from fermented biomass was produced through green mechanochemical synthesis, a technique that proved to be highly efficient for nanofertilizer production. The tests demonstrated that the BNF at different doses had effects in vegetable crops after foliar application in the field. In melon plants, the productivity per plant increased by 50% after the foliar application of BNF and the productivity per hectare went from 14 Kg/ha to approximately 20 Kg/ha after 12% BNF application. Therefore, Salvinia auriculata biomass is an excellent source of organic compounds for formulating agricultural inputs.