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Copyright of Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas is the property of Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cyanobacteria extracts are vital to agriculture because they enrich the soil with vital minerals and support the natural generation of plant hormones. These extracts have proven to be advantageous by greatly increasing crop production and growth. This research evaluated an extract of Arthrospira maxima on the early growth stage of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) under semi-controlled conditions. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used with 4 treatments: 0 (control), 4, 8, and 12 [mg mL-1] of Arthrospira maxima and 4 replicates; gas exchange variables, growth rates, and biomass production were measured. The results revealed that, compared to the control plants, the application of the extract increased the net photosynthesis rates (AN), by 125.46% (10.89 ± 0.47 CO2 m-2 s-1); stomatal conductance (gs) by 189. 89% (273.60 ± 20.70 mmol H2O m-2 s-1); root dry weight (RWW) by 275% (3.30 ± 0.006 g); leaf dry weight (LW) by 332.02% (5.91 ± 0.09 g) and leaf area (LA), by 228.61% (1459.69 ± 12.46 cm²). The biomass distribution was mainly directed to the leaves as the extract concentration increased. In conclusion, the application of Arthrospira maxima extract increased most of the variables evaluated, so it can be suggested that the use of this type of organic fertilizers, based on A. maxima extracts, could be used as a biotechnological strategy that would allow the promotion of sustainable agriculture based on organic fertilization in S. melongena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on fertilization systems for grasses and forage crops may be considered as an effective alternative to improve their productivity and nutritional value and, at the same time, to reduce the use of fertilizers. Starting from this condition, a research program was carried out for implementing an integral technology for the effective management of inoculation with AMF on these crops. This program included the selection of efficient strains of AMF, definition of mineral fertilizer dosages for establishment, maintenance and recovery of inoculated grasses, and determination of doses and frequency of inoculation for maintaining an effective mycorrhizal functioning of these crops. There was a high compatibility between the strain efficiency and type of soil on the response of grasses to inoculation with AMF. Type of soil, as well as grass species and its management, influenced on the permanence of the introduced strain, but, in all cases, inoculated grasses required lower doses of fertilizers than those with no inoculation, in order to reach adequate biomass yield and nutritional values. Inoculation with doses lower than 4x105 spores ha-1 of the efficient strain of AMF, every one or two years, depending on the duration of the effect of initial inoculation, guaranteed the permanence of an effective mycorrhizal functioning on established grasses. The introduction, at production scale, of fertilization systems, based on the inoculation of an effective strain of AMF and the application of complementary levels of mineral or organic fertilizers, contributed to save up to 50% of fertilizer doses recommended for these crops, without reducing yield or nutritional value of biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]