Biostimulant Application, under Reduced Nutrient Supply, Enhances Quality and Sustainability of Ornamental Containerized Transplants

Ornamental containerized transplant production needs high doses of controlled release fertilizers (CFR), but it is known that there an environmental risk caused by inadequate fertilization management. To the best our knowledge, amino acid-(AaB) and seaweed extract-(SeB) based biostimulant application, in ornamental production, still poorly studied. Therefore, aim this work was to assess hypothesis that, under reduced nutrient supply, SeB AaB applications, via foliar spray, can promote quality sustainability high-quality seedlings with a 90-day growing cycle. The CRF incorporated into peat-growing medium Osmocote Exact Mini formulation N:P:K = 15 + 9 11 (3 months). Six treatments were compared two economically important potted (0.3 L volume) ornamentals: Abelia × grandiflora Lantana camara: T1 conventional full dose: 4 gL−1 per pot; T2 limited 50% T1; T3 MC-Extra® [SeB 0.5 gL−1]; T4 1.0 T5 Megafol® [AaB 1.5 mL L−1]; T6 2.5 L−1]. research results showed application plus resulted plant performance greater than or equal those raised dose. In particular, S1 (Abelia ‘Edward Goucher’) S2 (Lantana camara ‘Little Lucky’) behaved differently concerning dose CRF; T1, A. young transplants, increased root morphological characteristics, as well number leaves, leaf area, dry biomass accumulation; L. camara, achieved higher performance. biostimulants also improved, both physiological agronomical Nitrogen Use Efficiency, This study support decision-making terms agronomic technique choices line sustainable development production.