Protein hydrolysates and amino-acids fertilizers – physicochemical characteristics

The necessities of a sustainable agriculture require the use of fertilizing solutions and methods capable to respond to the needs of agricultural crops and to the requirements of the environment protection. In this regard, extra-radicular fertilizers and liquid fertilizers with application or incorporation into the soil respond to these priorities. In the past 20 years, the range of fertilizers has greatly diversified, currently being developed the compositions containing minerals together with natural or synthetic organic substances, with application to a wide range of crops. Organic substances added are intended to stimulate the activity of photosynthesis, absorption of nutrients, to provide a balanced nutrition, to combat nutritional deficiencies and reduce the effects of different stressors. The most frequently used organic substances are protein hydrolysates of plant or animal origin, and various amino-acids. Complex matrices resulted by including into NPK structures organic substances led to the development of new types of bio-fertilizers whose agrochemical effects were tested with positive effects on the nutrition of different crops in the conditions present in Romania. Through a careful selection of raw materials and technological processes, certain formulas of bio-fertilizers can be used in organic farming, where the imposed requirements are defined by European regulations and verified by certification bodies. In my own researches the concerns are directed towards producing these fertilizers and their testing in the vegetation/green house and in field. This paper shows the physical and chemical characteristics for some of the complex matrices with organic substances used in agriculture

Research regarding bioremediation of the soil polluted with petroleum hydrocarbons, in the green house

On the background where no absorbent was used, the highest rate of degradation of the petroleum hydrocarbons (47%) was attained in the variants treated with the AH-SH fertilizer, the highest rate of degradation of the hydrocarbons (45%) on a background without absorbent was attained in the variants treated with potassium humate and microelements along with the bacterial inoculant. Upon utilization of 16 t/ha peat as absorbent without using any microbial inoculant, the highest rate of degradation (43%) of the petroleum hydrocarbons was attained following the fertilization with AH-SG1, upon application of the bacterial inoculant, the highest rate of degradation of the petroleum hydrocarbons (47%) was provided by fertilization with AH-SG2. Upon application of a 16 kg/ha dose of Zeba absorbent without any bacterial inoculant, the highest rate of degradation (47%) of the petroleum hydrocarbons, 45 days after the application of the treatments, was provided by the fertilizer AH-SG2. Upon treatment with 16 kg/ha Zeba absorbent and application of the bacterial inoculant, the highest rate of degradation (52%) was provided by the fertilizer AH-SG1. The second highest rate of degradation, 51%, was provided by the fertilizer AH-SG1. Upon application of 32 kg/ha Zeba absorbent without any bacterial inoculant, the best results in the bioremediation process were obtained following the treatment with the fertilizer AH-SG2 in a dose of 650 l/ha plus 64 kg/ha glucose. In these variants, the level of the petroleum hydrocarbons dropped by 59% after just 45 days of treatment or 60 days after the pollution. Upon application of 32 kg/ha Zeba absorbent along with the bacterial inoculant, the highest rate of degradation of the petroleum hydrocarbons (54%) was provided by the fertilizer AH-SG1. The second highest rate – 53% – was provided by the fertilizer AH-SG2

High-Temperature Influences Plant Bio-Stimulant-like Effects of the Combination Particle Film-Forming Materials-Foliar Fertilizers on Apple Trees

Particle film forming materials were introduced as a solution to reduce the effects of excessive solar irradiation on plant photosynthesis. Covering plant leaves with particle films leads to plant bio-stimulant-like effects: increased protection against abiotic stress and increased fruit quality. We used zeolites and diatomaceous earth carriers for foliar fertilizer, known for their application as particle film-forming material. The aim of this paper was to investigate the plant bio-stimulant-like effects of this combined two-in-one product on the yield of apple trees and their photosynthetic pigments and fruit quality. The experiments were conducted for two years, 2021 and 2022, which had different agroclimatic patterns: 2021 had a deficit of precipitation, whereas 2022 was warmer by more than +4.8 °C compared to the recorded average temperature. Applying particle film-forming material and foliar fertilizer reduces the degradation of the photosynthetic pigments by drought and excessive solar radiation by 25–30%. In the year with a deficit of precipitation there was an increased yield by an additional 11.56–12.38% and the fruit quality similarly increased. Such effects of these combined two-in-one products were limited in 2022 as the temperature was higher than normal by several degrees

Study on the efficiency and mobility of different forms of nitrogen from foliar fertilizers by using of 15N isotope

The objective of the study was to establish (by using as tracer the 15N isotope) the contribution of foliar complex fertilizer containing natural organic compounds for improving the efficiency of different forms of nitrogen fertilizers applied to the soil. We used the isotope in order to track the efficiency use of different forms of nitrogen fertilizer. Efficient use of nitrogen has a positive effect on the quality of the crop which was accompanied by a corresponding decrease of the pollutant impact of chemical fertilization on the environment. There were used fertilizers with NPK matrix containing meso and micro-nutrients, and we incorporated organic substances, such as protein hydrolysates with biostimulatory role due to the presence of free aminoacids, and we obtained maize green mass yiled increases, which are stastistically significant. The nitrogen present in various forms, such as ammonia N-NH4, nitric N-NO3, amide N-NH2 was labelled with 15N isotope. We observed that there were increases when nitrates and ammonia forms were used, when was compared with the unfertilized control variant. In fact, this study demonstrates the efficiency of protein hydrolysates

Effects of Siliceous Natural Nanomaterials Applied in Combination with Foliar Fertilizers on Physiology, Yield and Fruit Quality of the Apricot and Peach Trees

Siliceous natural nanomaterials (SNNMs), i.e., diatomaceous earth and natural zeolites, have a nanoporous structure with large active surfaces that adsorb cations or polarized molecules. Such nanoporous feature determines the effects related to SNNM utilization as low-risk plant protectants and soil improvers. This work used SNNMs from Romanian quarries as carriers for foliar fertilizers applied to stone-fruit trees, apricot and peach. We determined the effects of SNNMs on the physiology, yield and fruit quality of the treated stone-fruit trees. SNNM application determined impacts specific to the formation of particle films on leaves: reduced leaf temperature (up to 4.5 °C) and enhanced water use efficiency (up to 30%). Foliar fertilizers’ effects on yield are amplified by their application with SNNMs. Yield is increased up to 8.1% by the utilization of SNNMs with foliar fertilizers, compared to applying foliar fertilizer alone. Diatomaceous earth and natural zeolites promote the accumulation of polyphenols in apricot and peach fruits. The combined application of SNNMs and foliar fertilizer enhance the performance of peach and apricot trees

Effects of Siliceous Natural Nanomaterials Applied in Combination with Foliar Fertilizers on Physiology, Yield and Fruit Quality of the Apricot and Peach Trees

Siliceous natural nanomaterials (SNNMs), i.e., diatomaceous earth and natural zeolites, have a nanoporous structure with large active surfaces that adsorb cations or polarized molecules. Such nanoporous feature determines the effects related to SNNM utilization as low-risk plant protectants and soil improvers. This work used SNNMs from Romanian quarries as carriers for foliar fertilizers applied to stone-fruit trees, apricot and peach. We determined the effects of SNNMs on the physiology, yield and fruit quality of the treated stone-fruit trees. SNNM application determined impacts specific to the formation of particle films on leaves: reduced leaf temperature (up to 4.5 °C) and enhanced water use efficiency (up to 30%). Foliar fertilizers’ effects on yield are amplified by their application with SNNMs. Yield is increased up to 8.1% by the utilization of SNNMs with foliar fertilizers, compared to applying foliar fertilizer alone. Diatomaceous earth and natural zeolites promote the accumulation of polyphenols in apricot and peach fruits. The combined application of SNNMs and foliar fertilizer enhance the performance of peach and apricot trees

Fertilizers with humic substances: development and characterization of new products

Fertilizers with humic substances can be used on different types of soil, as well as in technologies for improving degraded or contaminated soils and they proved effective on a wide range of cultures. Due to the variety of sources from which they can be obtained, there are many types of fertilizers containing natural biostimulating substances. This paper presents the development of a rage of complex NPK liquid fertilizers with humic substances, meso and micronutrients. The extraction processes, the humic substances separation, and the organo-mineral fertilizers technology were conducted regarding the physicochemical properties of the humic and fulvic acids in the alkaline/acidic reaction media, as well as their stability in the NPK, meso and micronutrients matrix. Two of the experimental fertilizers are physicochemically characterized and their agrochemical efficiency is shown by the results obtained in the National Fertilizers Testing Network. In the case of soil incorporation of the experimental fertilizers, the average yield increases, as compared to the unfertilized control, were ranging from 37.8% for sunflower crop to 42.3% for sugar beet cro