Impact of sewage sludge compost and biostimulants on the growth of Zoysiagrass in sod production systems
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/2447-536X.v32.e323026Keywords:
Bacteria, organic fertilization, seaweed, soil fertilityAbstract
To improve turfgrass development within the production system, it is essential to adopt sustainable alternatives that meet producers’ demands. These strategies should contribute to reducing production costs, improving product quality, and promoting crop sustainability. In this context, the use of sewage sludge compost and biostimulants has been widely studied for their application in agriculture. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the growth of Zoysiagrass cv. Esmeralda through the application of sewage sludge compost (SSC) combined with biostimulants as a nutrient source in the sod production in two cycles. The experiment was conducted under field conditions, in southwest of Brazil in February 2021, organized in a randomized block design with four repetitions. The treatments followed a 5 x 3 + 1 factorial scheme, consisting of five doses of SSC (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 Mg ha-1) combined with the absence or presence of biostimulants: (i) the growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense and (ii) seaweed extract from Ascophyllum nodosum, and a control. The evaluated parameters included leaf green color intensity, the normalized difference vegetation index, and the green cover rate on the soil. The growth and visual quality of the grass were significantly improved by the application of seaweed extract combined with higher doses of SSC during periods of lower rainfall
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Copyright (c) 2026 Adrielle Rodrigues Prates, Armando Reis Tavares, Leandro José Grava de Godoy, Patrick Luan Ferreira dos Santos, Jéssica Cristina Meira Bezerra, Matheus Vinícios Leal do Nascimento, João Victor Costa, Roberto Lyra Villas Bôas
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