African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6894

Full Length Research Paper

Mixtures design of Agave angustifolia Haw (Asparagales: Agavaceae) residue as a growth medium for tomato seedlings

Baldomero Hortencio Zárate-Nicolás
  • Baldomero Hortencio Zárate-Nicolás
  • Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR-Unidad Oaxaca, Academia de Protección y Producción Vegetal. Hornos 1003, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, C.P. 71230 Oaxaca, México.
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Alberto Masaguer Rodríguez
  • Alberto Masaguer Rodríguez
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, ETSI Agronomía, Departamento de Edafología, Av. Puerta de Hierro 2, C.P. 28040 Madrid, España.
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Esperanza Loera-Alvarado
  • Esperanza Loera-Alvarado
  • CONACYT-Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Avenida Francisco J. Múgica S/N Ciudad Universitaria, C.P. 58030. Morelia, Michoacán, México.
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Ileana Vera-Reyes
  • Ileana Vera-Reyes
  • CONACYT-Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada, Departamento de Biociencias y Agrotecnología, Saltillo, C.P. 25294, Coahuila, Mexico.
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Fidel Diego-Nava
  • Fidel Diego-Nava
  • Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR-Unidad Oaxaca, Academia de Protección y Producción Vegetal. Hornos 1003, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, C.P. 71230 Oaxaca, México.
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Nancy Alonso-Hernández
  • Nancy Alonso-Hernández
  • Sociedad Multidisciplinaria en Ciencias Agronómicas Aplicadas y Biotecnología (SOMUCAAB A.C.). Manantial de Morelia No. 55, Col. Los Manantiales de Morelia, C.P. 58188, Morelia, Michoacán de Ocampo, Mexico.
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Carlos Granados-Echegoyen
  • Carlos Granados-Echegoyen
  • CONACYT-Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Centro de Estudios en Desarrollo Sustentable y Aprovechamiento de la Vida Silvestre (CEDESU). Av. Agustín Melgar, Colonia Buenavista, C. P. 24039, San Francisco de Campeche, Campeche, México.
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  •  Received: 29 August 2020
  •  Accepted: 11 December 2020
  •  Published: 30 April 2021

Abstract

Tomato production under greenhouse conditions needs vigorous seedlings to reduce the loss of plants after the transplant. Different local substrates such as agave bagasse, pine bark and coconut fiber complemented with peat, expanded clay, vermiculite and pure peat for tomato seedlings production were tested. The seed germination, root ball compaction, height of the seedling, stem diameter, and total dry weight were quantified. The stem diameter observed in Agave - bagasse + peat + expanded - clay + vermiculite (30:60:5:5 v/v) (BMTAEV3), Agave - bagasse + pine - bark + peat + expanded - clay + vermiculite (30:30:30:5:5) (BMCPTAEV4), Agave - bagasse + peat + expanded - clay + vermiculite (50:30:10:10) (BMTAEV5), Sphagnum peat (SUNSHINE® 3) 100% (M3SC), and Agave - bagasse + peat + expanded - clay + vermiculite (40:40:10:10) (BMTAEV6) treatments were in acceptable parameter range to commercial use, but BMTAEV3, BMTAEV5, and BMTAEV6 treatments show better germination, root ball compaction, a bigger height and diameter, getting tomato seedlings with vigor to the transplant. The local substrata overcome the commercial growth medium parameters in seedlings evaluation. It is shown that mixtures of agave-bagasse with expanded clay, and vermiculite are a substrate alternative for tomato seedlings production, reducing the use of expensive and scarce material such as peat by up to between 40 and 60% (v/v).

Key words: Agave by-product, parameters, substrate, transplant, tomato seedlings.