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Bio-Based Solutions for Agriculture: Foliar Application of Wood Distillate Alone and in Combination with Other Plant-Derived Corroborants Results in Different Effects on Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.)

Authors :
Riccardo Fedeli
Andrea Vannini
Massimo Guarnieri
Fabrizio Monaci
Stefano Loppi
Source :
Biology, Vol 11, Iss 3, p 404 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

Bio-stimulants are showing growing success and are gradually replacing synthetic fertilizers in agriculture. Wood distillate (WD), also known as wood vinegar or pyroligneous acid, is a by-product of biomass pyrolysis and is increasingly used as a bio-stimulant for crop production. This study investigated whether weekly foliar applications of 0.25% and 0.50% WD have a differential effect on the chlorophyll and sugar content as well as biomass production in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Moreover, the additional beneficial effect from the addition of corroborants of plant origin such as 3% soy lecithin and 5% flavonoid-rich wood glycolic extract to WD (BF) was investigated. Moreover, the possible toxicological concern from some potentially toxic elements (PTEs), namely Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn, which may be abundant in WD was verified. After four weeks, we found that 0.25% WD not only increases lettuce biomass, which has an economic value, but also has beneficial effects on other qualitative parameters such as sugars and total sweetness. On the other hand, the use of 0.5% WD decreased the content of soluble sugars, suggesting a hormetic-type effect. We did not find evidence of further beneficial effects from the addition to WD of plant-derived corroborants, nor of any enrichment in the content of the investigated PTEs.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20797737
Volume :
11
Issue :
3
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Biology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.9f207659c500404b94bf5ce3a6740e8b
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11030404