Nutrient allocation and growth responses of Oncidium baueri to different Bokashi application methods
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/2447-536X.v32.e322993Keywords:
bokashi, chloriphyll fluorescence, nutrient allocation, orchid fertilization, sustainable horticultureAbstract
Orchids require tailored fertilization protocols, yet the high-potential native Brazilian species Oncidium baueri Lindley lacks a validated cultivation protocol. This study evaluated the effects of Bokashi organic fertilizer on its growth, nutrient allocation, and photosynthetic activity to establish the first
standardized protocol for this species. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, comparing a conventional chemical fertilizer with five Bokashi application strategies (substrate-incorporated, surface-applied, and foliar sprays) at two doses: 10 g L-1 and 20 g L-1 . Over a 12-month period, we monitored phytometric parameters (growth and biomass), chlorophyll a fluorescence, and the macronutrient and micronutrient content in different plant tissues (leaves, pseudobulbs, and roots). All Bokashi treatments outperformed the chemical control in promoting vegetative growth, with the substrate-incorporated 20 g L-1 dose yielding the greatest increases in shoot length (359%), pseudobulb number (138%), and total biomass. The application method directly influenced nutrient partitioning; foliar sprays enhanced potassium (K) absorption in aerial tissues, while substrate-based methods were more effective for sulfur (S) and zinc (Zn). Photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) remained optimal across all treatments, indicating no physiological stress. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) confirmed these distinct tissue-specific nutrient accumulation patterns. We conclude that substrate-incorporated Bokashi is a highly effective and sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers. This study provides a scientifically validated protocol for optimizing O. baueri cultivation, contributing to both the advancement of sustainable horticultural practices and the commercial valuation of this native ornamental species.
Downloads
References
AULAKH, M.S.; MALHI, S.S. Interactions of nitrogen with other nutrients and water: a review. Advances in Agronomy, v.86, p.341-409, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(05)86007-9
CHAO, Z-F.; CHAO, D-Y. Barriers and carriers for transition metal homeostasis in plants. Plant Communications, v.6, n.2, p.101235, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xplc.2024.101235
CUNHA, T.B.; SOUSA, S.M.; REIS, A.C.; MATOS, E.M.; VICCINI, L.F. Synthetic tetraploid of Oncidium crispum Lodd. (Orchidaceae). Methods in Molecular Biology, v.2827, p.267-278, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3954-2_18
FAGERIA, N.K.; FILHO, M.B.; MOREIRA, A.; GUIMARÃES, C.M. Foliar fertilization of crop plants. Journal of Plant Nutrition, v.32, n.6, p.1044-1064, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904160902872826
GUPTA, N.; RAM, H.; KUMAR, B. Mechanism of zinc absorption in plants: uptake, transport, translocation and accumulation. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, v.15, p.85-109, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-016-9390-1
HASANUZZAMAN, M.; BHUYAN, M.H.M.B.; NAHAR, K.; HOSSAIN, M.S.; MAHMUD, J.A.; HOSSEN, M.S.; CHOWDHURY, A.A.C.M.; MOUMITA, M.; FUJITA, M. Potassium: a vital regulator of plant responses and tolerance to abiotic stresses. Agronomy, v.8, n.3, p.31, 2018. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy8030031
HATA, F.T.; SPAGNUOLO, F.A.; PAULA, M.T.; MOREIRA, A.A.; VENTURA, M.U.; FREGONEZI, G.A.F.; OLIVEIRA, A.L.M. Bokashi compost and biofertilizer increase lettuce agronomic variables in protected cultivation and indicates substrate microbiological changes. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, v.32, n.9, p.640-646, 2020. https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.2020.v32.i9.2142
HOSHINO, R.T.; ALVES, G.A.C.; BERTONCELLI JÚNIOR, D.; ZEFFA, D.M.; STULZER, G.C.G.; TAKAHASHI, L.S.A.; FARIA, R.T. Bokashi, simple superphosphate, and fertigation for the growth and nutrition of hybrid Cattleya (Orchidaceae). Agronomy Science and Biotechnology, v.9, p.1-11, 2021. https://doi.org/10.33158/ASB.r178.v9.2023
HOSHINO, R.T.; SOUZA JUNIOR, H.; TEJO, D.P.; PEDRO JUNIOR, S.; SCHERER, A.; FARIA, R.T. Mineral nutrition in orchids. Agronomy Science and Biotechnology, v.9, p.1-11, 2023. https://doi.org/10.33158/ASB.r178.v9.2023
JALAL, R.S.; AL-AMERI, A.M.; GHANIM, A.M.; AL-ANSI, A.A.; AL-KAABI, S.D.; FADHALI, O.A.; AL-KAYSI, M.A. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: mechanisms and applications. Life (Basel), v.13, n.1, p.211, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010211
KEITAN, M.; HADI, A. Response of three American grape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) to em Bokashi and foliar spraying with some plant extracts. Euphrates Journal of Agricultural Science, v.15, n.3, p.387-399, 2023.
MAXWELL, K.; JOHNSON, G.N. Chlorophyll fluorescence—a practical guide. Journal of Experimental Botany, v.51, n.345, p.659-668, 2000. https://doi.org/10.1093/jexbot/51.345.659
NETTO, L.A.; VILLA, F.; DA SILVA, D.F.; DA SILVA, L.S.; DA SILVA, G.M.; DA SILVA, E. C. Mineral and organic fertilizer combined with doses of Azospirillum brasilense in an orchid hybrid. Comunicata Scientiae, v.12, p.e3406-e3406, 2021. https://doi.org/10.14295/CS.v12.3406
PAGE, V.; FELLER, U. Heavy metals in crop plants: Transport and redistribution processes on the whole plant level. Agronomy, v.5, n.3, p.447-463, 2015. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy5030447
SILVA, F.C. (ed.). Manual de análises químicas de solos, plantas e fertilizantes. 2. ed. Brasília: Embrapa Informação Tecnológica, 2009.
SUBEDI, K. Transforming waste: A review on Bokashi’s impact on soil health, crop growth, and pest and disease management. Journal of Wastes and Biomass Management, v. 7, n. 1, p. 13-15,2025. https://doi.org/10.26480/jwbm.01.2025.13.15
TAIZ, L.; ZEIGER, E.; MOLLER, I. M.; MURPHY, A. Fundamentos de fisiologia vegetal. 1a.ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2021. 558p.
TONG, R.C.; WHITEHEAD, C.S.; FAWOLE, O.A. Effects of conventional and Bokashi hydroponics on vegetative growth, yield and quality attributes of bell peppers. Plants, v.10, n.7, p.1281, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071281
TRÄNKNER, M.; TAVAKOL, E.; JÁKLI, B. Functioning of potassium and magnesium in photosynthesis, photosynthate translocation and photoprotection. Physiologia Plantarum, v.163, n.3, p.414–431, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.12747
VILCHERREZ-ATOCHE, J.A.; IIYAMA, C.M.; CARDOSO, J.C. Polyploidization in orchids: from cellular changes to breeding applications. Plants (Basel), v.11, n.4, p.469, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11040469
WHITE, P.J.; BROADLEY, M.R. Calcium in plants. Annals of Botany, v.92, n.4, p.487-511, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcg164
XIE, K.; CAKMAK, I.; WANG, S.; ZHANG, F.; GUO, S. Synergistic and antagonistic interactions between potassium and magnesium in higher plants. The Crop Journal, v.9, n.2, p.249-256, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2020.10.005
ZAYED, O.; HEWEDY, O. A.; ABDELMOTELEB, A.; ALI, M.; YOUSSEF, M. S.; ROUMIA, A. F.; SEYMOUR, D.; YUAN, Z.-C. Nitrogen journey in plants: from uptake to metabolism, stress response, and microbe interaction. Biomolecules, v.13, n.10, p.1443, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13101443
ZHANG, W.; ZHANG, S.; FAN, Z. Quantifying the nitrogen allocation and resorption for an orchid pseudobulb in relation to nitrogen supply. Scientia Horticulturae, v.291, p.110580, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110580
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sérgio Pedro Junior, Vitor Figueiredo Aranha da Silva, Débora Perdigão Tejo, João Pedro Chacon Pereira, Halley Caixeta de Oliveira, Ricardo Tadeu de Faria
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
