Perenial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) yield as a response to fitoregulators produced in digestates

Abstract

Objective: Determine the effect on ballico perenne (Lolium perenne) in response to phytoregulators produced in digestates obtained from the anaerobic digestion of cow manure at different initial pH values.

Design / methodology: Anaerobic digestions of cow manure were mounted at different initial pH values: 5, 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5 at 4, 8 and 20 days of digestion; gibberellic acid (AG3) and indole acetic acid (IAA) were quantified. These digestates were applied in pots: in plants of ballico with 6 months of established, applying all the digestates and in plants of ballico of 45 days of established with digestates at 4 days of digestion. The variables measured were height, fresh and dry matter and number of stems.

Results: The initial pH of the digestion influenced the production of phytoregulators, being higher at pH 5.5 and 6.5; no IAA production was recorded at basic pH. The application of the digestates had a different effect according to the age of the pasture, this was greater in the leaf weight variable, in 6 months ballico plants the increase was between 21 and 24%; in 45 days ballico plants it was 48 to 115% higher compared to the control. Likewise, there were between 50 and 60% greater number of stems than in the control, applying digestate at 4 days of digestion.

Limitations / implications: The study was carried out in ballico perenne, it would be interesting to evaluate it in other crops.

Findings / Conclusions: The initial pH of the manure has a greater effect on the properties of the digestate than the digestion time. Digestates can be a good fertilizer for ballico perenne, its effect is better in young grasses. The digestate even with only 4 days of digestion has a positive effect on the development of ryegrass.