Application of Biostimulants in Vegetable Production

Abstract

Biostimulatori predstavljaju sve značajniji alat u održivoj poljoprivredi, naročito u povrtarskoj proizvodnji, gde je cilj postizanje visokih prinosa i kvaliteta uz minimalnu upotrebu sintetičkih đubriva i pesticida. Oni su najčešće prirodnog porekla, biorazgradivi i apsolutno kompatibilni sa principima organske poljoprivrede, što ih čini ekološki prihvatljivim i bezbednim za upotrebu. Biostimulatori deluju na poboljšanje dostupnosti hranljivih materija u zemljištu i olakšavaju njihovo usvajanje, čime podržavaju rast, vitalnost i opšte zdravlje biljaka. Mehanizam delovanja biostimulatora ogleda se kroz povećanje zapremine rizosfere, aktiviranje transporta hranljivih materija u ćelijskim membranama korena i poboljšanje aktivnosti enzima za usvajanje azota u listovima i korenu. Ovi efekti doprinose većem unosu hranljivih materija i poboljšanju asimilacije, što utiče na povećanje ukupnog prinosa i kvaliteta plodova. Redovna upotreba biostimulatora rezultira krupnijim plodovima, intenzivnijom bojom i većim sadržajem fitonutrijenata, što je posebno važno u savremenoj proizvodnji. Od 2022. godine Agronomski fakultet u Čačku sprovodi seriju ogleda primene biostimulatora na različitim povrtarskim vrstama (crni i beli luk, grašak, paradajz i rotkvice, kao i rasad paprike i paradajza). Cilj ovih istraživanja bio je utvrđivanje efikasnosti različitih organskih biostimulatora koji se razlikuju po sastavu – amino kiseline, fulvo i huminske kiseline, ekstrakti morskih algi i gljivice iz kvasca. U ogledima su korišćeni komercijalni preparati Fulvimaks 80, Trainer, ProAlgin i Kvasac. Svi biostimulatori pokazali su pozitivne efekte na rast i razvoj biljaka u odnosu na kontrolu, pri čemu se intenzitet efekta razlikovao zavisno od vrste biljke. Kod crnog luka najveću efikasnost pokazao je biostimulator na bazi kvasca, dok su kod belog luka najbolji rezultati postignuti primenom kvasca i huminsko-fulvo kiselina. Kod graška se ponovo istakao kvasac, dok su kod rotkvice najznačajniji efekti zabeleženi primenom huminskih kiselina i ekstrakta morskih algi. Rezultati pokazuju da primena biostimulatora u povrtarstvu može značajno doprineti poboljšanju morfoloških i agronomskih osobina biljaka, ali je izbor optimalnog biostimulatora zavisan od vrste biljke i njenog fiziološkog odgovora. Ovakva saznanja omogućavaju ciljanu primenu biostimulatora u održivoj proizvodnji povrća, sa akcentom na povećanje prinosa i kvaliteta proizvoda.Biostimulants are becoming an increasingly important tool in sustainable agriculture, especially in vegetable production, where the aim is to achieve high yields and quality with minimal use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. They are generally of natural origin, biodegradable, and fully compatible with the principles of organic farming, making them environmentally friendly and safe to use. Biostimulants improve nutrient availability in the soil and facilitate uptake, supporting plant growth, vitality, and overall health. Their mode of action includes increasing the rhizosphere volume, activating nutrient transport in root cell membranes, and enhancing the activity of enzymes responsible for nitrogen uptake in leaves and roots. These effects lead to increased nutrient absorption and improved assimilation, resulting in higher overall yield and fruit quality. Regular use of biostimulants produces larger fruits, more intense coloration, and higher phytonutrient content, which is particularly important in modern production. Since 2022, the Faculty of Agronomy has conducted a series of trials on the application of biostimulants to various vegetable species, including onion, garlic, pea, tomato, radish, and seedlings of pepper and tomato. The aim of these studies was to determine the effectiveness of different organic biostimulants with varying compositions, including amino acids, fulvic and humic acids, seaweed extracts, and yeast-derived fungi. The products selected for the trials were commercially available under the names Fulvimax 80, Trainer, ProAlgin, and Yeast. The trials showed that all biostimulants, compared to untreated controls, had positive effects on plant growth and development, although the intensity and type of effect varied depending on the plant species. For onion, the yeast-based biostimulant showed the highest efficiency, while for garlic, significant results were achieved with both yeast- and humic/fulvic acid-based biostimulants. In peas, yeast again produced outstanding results, whereas for radish, the most pronounced effects were observed with humic acids and seaweed extracts. These results indicate that the application of biostimulants in vegetable production can significantly improve the morphological and agronomic traits of plants. However, the choice of the optimal biostimulant depends on the specific plant species and its physiological response. These findings enable the selective and targeted use of biostimulants in sustainable vegetable production, emphasizing yield increase and product quality improvement