Results of the application tests of organic fertilizers and biostimulants
on shoots (Italy) year 2022.
From a collaboration between the University of Palermo and the Grena s.r.l. company, a study was launched in 2021 entitled “Water and mineral nutrition in nursery activity and for the production of sparkling wine grapes in a hot-dry environment and under biological conditions.
The test were carried out in Sicily at the Giacomo Mannone nurseries in Petrosino (TP) and in Calabria at the Maiorana nurseries in Catanzaro (CZ).
Protocol:
Grena Shoots: 260 Kg/ha of organic substance, 55 Kg/ha of N, 30 Kg/ha P2O5, 20 Kg/ha K2O, 16 Kg/ha Ca, 24 Kg/ha Fe.
Control shoots: company fertilization plan with 60 Kg/ha N, 38 Kg/ha P2O5, 15 Kg/ha K2O, 24 Kg/ha Ca, 13 kg/ha Mg, 7.2 kg/ha Fe
Analyzed parameters:
phenology; leaf chlorophyll content and nitrogen balance index, length and number of main shoots and female shoots, leaf/plant area and rooting percentage. The roots were then classified according to their diameter and the total length was evaluated. Furthermore, the following were measured: fresh weight and dry weight of the shoots (main and lateral), fresh and dry weight of the root cutting.
Results:
The treated shoots with biostimulants showed an evident phenological advance. In fact, although upon uprooting the plants of both experimental theses showed a similar percentage of rooting, twenty days after planting those treated with biostimulants already had a greater vegetative activity.
The plants of the Grena shoot had a greater development in terms of length, number of shoots, number of leaves per shoot and number of females emitted during development.
However, the plants of the witness Grena showed greater homogeneity between the individual plants, a feature of crucial importance in the nursery sector.
Also the root system showed a greater development of the roots in terms of length, a certainly desirable characteristic if one considers that the secondary roots play an important role in the absorption of water and nutrients.
