Kale Seed Germination and Plant Growth Responses to Two Different Processed Biostimulants from Pyrolysis and Hydrothermal Carbonization
The cost of producing organic crops is increasing. Agricultural wastes can be used as biostimulants to increase plant growth and productivity and reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers. A pouch assay and a potted greenhouse experiment were conducted to investigate the effect of pyroligneous a...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Yuxuan Tang Raphael Ofoe Lokanadha R. Gunupuru Dengge Qin Lord Abbey |
| author_facet | Yuxuan Tang Raphael Ofoe Lokanadha R. Gunupuru Dengge Qin Lord Abbey |
| author_sort | Yuxuan Tang |
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| description | The cost of producing organic crops is increasing. Agricultural wastes can be used as biostimulants to increase plant growth and productivity and reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers. A pouch assay and a potted greenhouse experiment were conducted to investigate the effect of pyroligneous acid (PA) and sea lettuce (SL) on kale (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> subsp. <i>acephala (DC.) Metzg</i>) seed germination and growth. Although previous studies have demonstrated that these two biostimulants could promote plant germination and growth, there is little research to compare their effects on seed germination and plant growth. The pouch assay showed that PA liquid affected the seed germination rate under different concentrations; the seed germination rate decreased as the concentration of PA liquid increased. However, the effect of seed germination was less pronounced in SL liquids. Kale seeds treated with 0.01% PA showed the best elongation and seedling growth performance. Moreover, the greenhouse experiment indicates that SL liquids significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) affected kale growth production, while PA liquid had less difference on kale growth under various concentrations. The 0.25% PA and 1% SL increased the aboveground fresh weight by ca. 26% and 29%, respectively. Also, the phytochemical contents of kale leaves, including phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbate, and protein, were significantly increased with 0.25% PA and 1% SL application. These results suggest that low concentrations of PA are more suitable for seedling root growth in kale and 1% SL had the most significant growth-promoting effect on kale. Hydrothermal carbonization sea lettuce liquid can be used as a good biostimulant for agricultural production to improve kale germination and growth. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d17df9a75d4a4a82a0e5fffec69b1e9a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2674-1024 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Seeds |
| spelling | doaj-art-d17df9a75d4a4a82a0e5fffec69b1e9a2025-08-20T03:44:04ZengMDPI AGSeeds2674-10242025-03-01411310.3390/seeds4010013Kale Seed Germination and Plant Growth Responses to Two Different Processed Biostimulants from Pyrolysis and Hydrothermal CarbonizationYuxuan Tang0Raphael Ofoe1Lokanadha R. Gunupuru2Dengge Qin3Lord Abbey4Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, 50 Pictou Road, Bible Hill, NS B2N 5E3, CanadaDepartment of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, 50 Pictou Road, Bible Hill, NS B2N 5E3, CanadaDepartment of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, 50 Pictou Road, Bible Hill, NS B2N 5E3, CanadaDepartment of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, 50 Pictou Road, Bible Hill, NS B2N 5E3, CanadaDepartment of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, 50 Pictou Road, Bible Hill, NS B2N 5E3, CanadaThe cost of producing organic crops is increasing. Agricultural wastes can be used as biostimulants to increase plant growth and productivity and reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers. A pouch assay and a potted greenhouse experiment were conducted to investigate the effect of pyroligneous acid (PA) and sea lettuce (SL) on kale (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> subsp. <i>acephala (DC.) Metzg</i>) seed germination and growth. Although previous studies have demonstrated that these two biostimulants could promote plant germination and growth, there is little research to compare their effects on seed germination and plant growth. The pouch assay showed that PA liquid affected the seed germination rate under different concentrations; the seed germination rate decreased as the concentration of PA liquid increased. However, the effect of seed germination was less pronounced in SL liquids. Kale seeds treated with 0.01% PA showed the best elongation and seedling growth performance. Moreover, the greenhouse experiment indicates that SL liquids significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) affected kale growth production, while PA liquid had less difference on kale growth under various concentrations. The 0.25% PA and 1% SL increased the aboveground fresh weight by ca. 26% and 29%, respectively. Also, the phytochemical contents of kale leaves, including phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbate, and protein, were significantly increased with 0.25% PA and 1% SL application. These results suggest that low concentrations of PA are more suitable for seedling root growth in kale and 1% SL had the most significant growth-promoting effect on kale. Hydrothermal carbonization sea lettuce liquid can be used as a good biostimulant for agricultural production to improve kale germination and growth.https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1024/4/1/13biostimulantsorganic wastekalepyroligneous acidpyrolysishydrothermal carbonization |
| spellingShingle | Yuxuan Tang Raphael Ofoe Lokanadha R. Gunupuru Dengge Qin Lord Abbey Kale Seed Germination and Plant Growth Responses to Two Different Processed Biostimulants from Pyrolysis and Hydrothermal Carbonization Seeds biostimulants organic waste kale pyroligneous acid pyrolysis hydrothermal carbonization |
| title | Kale Seed Germination and Plant Growth Responses to Two Different Processed Biostimulants from Pyrolysis and Hydrothermal Carbonization |
| title_full | Kale Seed Germination and Plant Growth Responses to Two Different Processed Biostimulants from Pyrolysis and Hydrothermal Carbonization |
| title_fullStr | Kale Seed Germination and Plant Growth Responses to Two Different Processed Biostimulants from Pyrolysis and Hydrothermal Carbonization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Kale Seed Germination and Plant Growth Responses to Two Different Processed Biostimulants from Pyrolysis and Hydrothermal Carbonization |
| title_short | Kale Seed Germination and Plant Growth Responses to Two Different Processed Biostimulants from Pyrolysis and Hydrothermal Carbonization |
| title_sort | kale seed germination and plant growth responses to two different processed biostimulants from pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization |
| topic | biostimulants organic waste kale pyroligneous acid pyrolysis hydrothermal carbonization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1024/4/1/13 |
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