Evaluation of the Development of Roselle (Hibiscus Sabdariffa L.) in Two Soil Types with Interaction of Bacterial Cells and Vermicompost
Abstract
In this study, we tested the growth of two varieties of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) cultivated in two types of soils and the effects of the inoculation of seeds with cells of bacterial strains and vermicompost. (H. sabdariffa) are a member of the Malvaceae family and an important plant because its calyxes are used to produce beverages, prepare food, in the textile industry, cosmetology, perfumery, medicine, etc.
This research was carried out at the Postgraduate College, Montecillo Campus, Mexico. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks with a factorial arrangement (4x3x2): four levels of organic matter factor, three levels of bacterial strains factor, and two levels of soil factor with three repetitions. The variables tested were: germination percentage (GP), plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), the number of leaves (NL), foliar area (FA cm2), radical volume (RV cm3), dry aerial part biomass weight (DAPBW), dry root biomass weight (DRBW), dry calyx biomass weight (DCBW) and chlorophyll content (CC). The effects of soil and bacterial strains showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) on the agronomic characteristics of (H. sabdariffa) plants. The organic matter factor only presented significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in the germination percentage and growth variables of the vegetative phase.
To increase crop production, the use of wastewater and microorganisms is proposed. Vermicompost exploded the percentage of germination, height, the number of leaves and stem diameter during the first weeks of growth, presenting important results in Creole variety (farmers’ local variety). By inoculating seeds with cells of bacterial strains, A9m and A7 helped significantly to stimulate plant growth, finding abetter response in A9m strain. The effects of soil factor showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in soil irrigated with residual water over agronomic characteristics satisfying the nutritional requirements of the crop.
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Introduction
Roselle or Roselle rose (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)is a plant that has medicinal properties backed by scientific studies; however, it is also used to dye food, soft drinks, syrups, among other products. It is of great importance to the State of Guerrero, Mexico, with a first-place nationally, in harvest area and calyx production (SIAP, 2016).
In this water-scarce world, wastewater has been used for people to grow crops because it is free, it contains a lot of plant nutrients that also are free but, all these benefits do not consider the cost of the healthcare of the goods consumers. The Mezquital Valley in central Mexico is an example of this issue. In sum, crops will continue to be irrigated with wastewater due to growing water shortages, but this situation is a question of management and socioeconomic costs. Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) has been used primarily in agriculture to promote seed germination, vigor, plant growth, and improve crop yield (Kloepper, et al., 1989), and for the control of plant pathogen microorganisms (Beneduzi, et al., 2012). Plant growth-promoting bacteria, in addition to their agricultural applications, have been used successfully to mitigate the damage of plant growth caused by wastewater discharges into crop soils, so that crops thrive and they produce satisfactorily because bacteria have the ability to improve wastewater bioremediation processes. Some other rhizobacteria promote crop plants and the plants used in bioremediation processes to allow rapid extraction of hazardous materials from soils (Bashan et al., 2008; McGrath et al., 1993).
Another cost-effective solution is the use of vermicompost. Studies show that organic fertilizers protect and develop the life of microorganisms by improving soil structure and allowing the recycling of organic matter (Ruíz, 2011). The vermicompost stores mainly nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur and prolonged-release micronutrients (García, 2011; Varela and Martínez, 2013), used as a growth medium in plant species under greenhouse conditions (Gardezi et al., 2008), increasing microbial load and plant growth hormones, highlighting a sustainable agriculture that prevents degradation of soils with inorganic fertilizers.
There is little information on the use of biofertilizers and organic fertilizers in the cultivation of Roselle, and the accumulation inedible parts of the plant by toxic elements present in the soil, therefore, the information that is required to get in this investigation consists of determining the practical, economic, and safe culture medium for the cultivation of H. sabdariffa testing two types of soil interacting with bacterial strains and vermicompost. This will give farmers options to use organic fertilization, reduce pollution, and gain new ecosystem-friendly technologies.
Conclusion
The four components: improved varieties, vermicompost, treated wastewater, and bacterial cells, play an important role in the quality, quantity, and health of plants for agricultural production with a suitable formula according to soil and water analyzes. The aggregation of organic matter shows positive effects on the percentage of the germination of both varieties and during the vegetative phase in Creole variety. Likewise, the vermicompost increased the emergency percentage of each variety studied and increased the radical volume. Plants with better agronomic characteristics were found in soils that were irrigated with sewage and inoculated with some bacterial strains in both varieties of Roselle. However, the use of microbial consortia that acts together in the crop system is suggested, having a more efficient and effective flow of nutrients in the plant'sgrowth.
