Effects of different VIUSID Agro® concentrations on the growth of Coffea arabica L. seedlings

Abstract

Objective: VIUSDI Agro® is a biostimulant that contains amino acids, vitamins and minerals and was subjected to a biocatalytic process of molecular activation that improves its biological activity. In Cuba, its beneficial . has been demonstrated mainly in vegetables, sugar cane and tobacco
Design/methodology/approach: To evaluate the effect of the product on morphoagronomic variables of coffee seedlings, experiments were carried out in the nursery of the Agro-Forestry Research Institute in Tercer Frente, from December 2019 to July 2020 and October 2020 to June 2021 under mesh saran shade.. In a completely randomized design, 6 concentrations of VIUSID Agro® were studied (0; 0.2; 0.4; 0.6; 0.8 and 1.0-mL L-1 of water) applied monthly from the second to the fifth pair of leaves via foliar application. The seedlings height, the diameter of the stem, the dry mass, the leaf area, the quality index as well as the efficiency were evaluated. Data were processed using a simple classification analysis of variance. Duncan's test was applied to compare the means. The concentrations and the leaf area were adjusted to several functions and the one with the highest coefficient of determination was selected
Results: The coffee seedlings responded positively to the biostimulant. The monthly foliar applications of VIUSID Agro® between the second and fifth pair of leaves increased the seedlings morpho-agronomic indicators
Findings/conclusions: VIUSID Agro® in concentrations ranging between 0,64- and 0,71 mL L-1 of water led to significant increases in the leaf area of the seedlings.