Use of organic fertilizers and biofertilizers in the propagation of Gliricidia sepium: Experimental trial.

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(Edited)
Dear readers, the high diversity of arboreal plants in the countries of the American tropics makes it possible to propose a sustainable development model, since it could be capable of supporting medium and long-term production. For García, Medina, Cova, Soca, Pizzani, Baldizán and Domìnguez (2008), Gliricidia sepium, locally known as Matarratón, is part of this tree diversity that is widely distributed in the tropics, with high productive potential and which has shown to be a forage plant according to the results obtained for livestock production.

Photo captured by the author @amestyj

In Venezuela there is little information regarding the use of Gliricidia Sepium in its nursery stage, however, Dominguez 2002, indicates that this legume is known locally as Matarratón and is part of that arboreal diversity that is widely distributed in the tropics, this is a multipurpose legume that is used as a shade tree in cocoa crops, fallow land, alleys, as a windbreak curtain as fences and live poles. Also its leaves can be toxic to some animals due to the presence of anti-nutritional compounds, its allelopathic properties are used in agriculture, but it is used as fodder in ruminant feeding because it has high biomass yields.

The propagation of this plant can be by seed or cuttings, generally the most used form, at least in the southern zone of Lake Maracaibo, is planting by cuttings, which can be planted in two different methods, vertical and horizontal. According to Chacón (1995), the percentage of emergence ranges between 68 and 74%, resulting in a moderate percentage of plants in the planted area.

Planting of forage resources by cuttings in a horizontal way

Photo captured by the author @amestyj

Wencomo (2004), recommends that tree species should be subjected to a nursery stage before being planted directly in the field, in order to observe their behavior in the initial growth stage so that the most vigorous plants can be selected to resist the effects caused by both biotic and abiotic stress in natural conditions, although the production costs for the establishment and exploitation of the species increase.

Likewise, when establishing nurseries it is important to incorporate techniques such as the application of fertilizers, with which a vigorous growth and development of tree legume cuttings is sought, taking into account that synthetic fertilizers have high costs in Venezuela, The need arises to incorporate agroecological techniques such as the application of organic fertilizers on Gliricidia cuttings, as alternatives to the agronomic management used in livestock production systems, based on an endogenous and sustainable development, which allows achieving a progressive change from conventional agriculture to a multifunctional agroecological agriculture.

Based on the above, an experimental trial with Gliricidia cuttings was carried out in the nursery of the National Experimental University, with the intention of evaluating the effect of VenAgro and Azotobacter fertilizers on the growth and development of the crop. The following are some interesting aspects of the trial implemented:

Experimental methodology
  • Experimental design
A nursery was previously built and prepared for 45 polyethylene bags with a capacity of 1kg, where the experimental unit is represented by each seedling, an experimental design of completely randomized blocks with 3 replications was used, consisting of 15 experimental units each, and 5 replications per treatment, which are: T0: Control; T1: Azotobacter; T2: VenAgro.

Distribution of polyethylene bags in the different experimental blocks


Photo captured by the author @amestyj

  • Experimental procedure
The test was carried out under semi-controlled conditions, vegetable layer was collected from the Glorieta production unit, and then passed through a sifter to sift it, it was also mixed with the manure once it was dry and sifted, in a proportion of 30% manure and 70% vegetable layer (soil); The 1 kg polyethylene bags were filled with this prepared substrate and watered for 4 days without sowing, in order to eliminate spontaneous vegetation; after 4 days, they were sown (1 cutting per bag). For fertilization, the doses of organic fertilizers corresponded to those indicated for each product according to the corresponding treatments, T0: Control, T1: Azotobacter, T2: VenAgro, with applications every 10 days from the moment of planting.

Substrate preparation and filling of polyethylene bags


Photo captured by the author @amestyj

It is important to note that for the selection of the cuttings a branch of about 10 to 25 mm thick and having a length of 25 cm was chosen, the base of the cutting was cut horizontally and the tip goes diagonally just above a bud, the leaves and shoots were removed to avoid transpiration that could dry the cutting.

  • Variables studied
-Height: From the moment of planting, the height of fifteen (15) Gliricidia cuttings per treatment was recorded every ten (10) days. The measurement was made with a graduated ruler placed vertically on the soil surface, taking as data the value that coincides with the highest apical bud of the central stem.

-Percentage of cuttings with buds sprouting: These indicators were determined percentage-wise, based on the total number of cuttings planted in the bags for each treatment.

-Length of the branches: This variable was started to be measured after 30 days, thereafter with a frequency of ten (10) days during two months, the number of branches and their length were counted.

Evaluation of the variables under study

Photo captured by the author @amestyj

Discussion of the results obtained
Although there was no significant difference in height between treatments, the highest absolute value was obtained with the application of Azotobacter. Regarding the length of branches per cuttings the best results were obtained with the application of Azotobacter, in relation to these results, Remus (cited by Flores, 2014), point out that bacteria of the genus Azotobacter in addition to fixing free-living nitrogen also solubilize phosphorus and substances such as vitamin B complex ( nicotinic, and biotin), pantothenic acid, phytohormones (heteroauxins IAA), gibberellins and cytokinins that promote plant growth and development, coinciding with those expressed by Lira S. (2010), where he clarifies the close relationship of these bacteria with cell division and prolongation.

Regarding the effect of organic fertilization on bud sprouting, the results show that there are no statistically significant differences (P≤0.05) among the treatments, however, it is worth noting that the application of Azotobacter (T1) despite not showing statistically significant differences with respect to the rest of the treatments presented the highest absolute value (73.3%) of the percentage of sprouted cuttings.

These results are close to those obtained by CATIE 1986, with Gliricidia sepium cuttings, with a percentage of 76% of sprouting cuttings, in 7 months with water deficit in tropical dry forest. However, it is worth mentioning that the period in which the nursery establishment was carried out was in the rainy period with continuous rainfall, this humidity condition could have influenced the percentages of sprouting cuttings, since according to Aldana 2009, G. sepium seedlings show unfavorable development when there are conditions of excess humidity, due to excessive rainfall and lack of drainage.

On the other hand, the results could also be associated with the diameter of the selected cuttings, since Clavero (2002) stipulates that cuttings with diameters less than 2.5 cm cannot guarantee the establishment of the plantation, due to the lack of mature buds that allow the development of growth points that originate shoots and allow growth and consequently the establishment of the plant.

Final considerations
Dear readers, it is important to highlight that among the fertilization treatments, the most favorable in terms of growth and development of the cuttings were those influenced by the application of Azotobacter in spite of not presenting significant differences in all the variables under study. This allows us to conclude that the application of this biofertilizer can be applied in the establishment of Gliricidia sepium cuttings in the nursery stage.

Bibliographic references
- Aguado S. (2012). Introduction to the Use and Management of Biofertilizers in Agriculture. INIFAP/SAGARPA. Mexico, Chapter III p. 52.

-Clavero, T. (1996). Arboreal forage legumes in tropical agriculture. Center for Technology Transfer in Pastures and Forages of the University of Zulia, Venezuela.

- Dávila and Urbano (1996), Leguminosas forrajeras arbóreas en la agricultura tropical. Arboreal legumes in the South Zone of Lake Maracaibo. Pp. 101-113 Center for Technology Transfer in Pastures and Forages of the University of Zulia, Venezuela.

- Domínguez, Pérez, Soto, Días, Fernández, Rodríguez, Blanco and Revilla (2002). Influence of the application of Azotobacter chroococcum and different sources of organic matter on the development of cuttings of Morus alba L. Center for the Development of the Limonar de Monte Ruz Mountain, El Salvador, Guantánamo, CP 99500, Cuba.

- Lira, (2007). Plant Physiology. Growth, development and action of hormones in plants. Editorial. Trillas S.A de C.V 2 Edition pp 193-212. Mexico.

- Wencomo H. 2004. Evaluation of 50 sections of Leucaena spp. at the nursery stage. Pastures and Forages, Vol. 27 No. 4, pp. 321-329.

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8 comments
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Interesting. The plant grows quite well around here as well and it is common to see goats feeding on the leaves.

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Hello dear @gentleshaid, it is common to see this type of crops in livestock areas, it is a plant that has nutritional elements suitable for animal feed, especially in ruminants such as goats, cows and others. Generally in the area where I am, they can be observed in live fences and in certain occasions as a protein bank or silvopastoral systems associated with pastures, their consumption should not be abused because it can cause certain imbalances in the body by the presence of some nutritional elements.

In the area it is sown directly, but with this research it could be observed that the cuttings well treated in nurseries with the use of biofertilizers, can be an ecological alternative to achieve an excellent propagation in the field.

See you later brother, have a great start of the week.

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Thank you for your support

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Interesante documentación y trabajo experimental @amestyj. Casualmente hace 4 días publiqué una entrada sobre el "mata ratón". Saludos.

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Greetings @capp, thank you for the valuation you give to the content, no doubt the gliricidia is a plant with many goodness, among which is the feeding of ruminants. See you later, have an excellent start

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