A Spray Foliar Containing <i>Methylobacterium symbioticum</i> Did Not Increase Nitrogen Concentration in Leaves or Olive Yield Across Three Rainfed Olive Orchards
Biological nitrogen (N) fixation has been advocated in agricultural fields due to being considered a more sustainable way to introduce N into agrosystems than industrial N fertilizers. In this study, a foliar spray inoculant containing the microorganism <i>Methylobacterium symbioticum</i>...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Manuel Ângelo Rodrigues João Ilídio Lopes Sandra Martins Cátia Brito Carlos Manuel Correia Margarida Arrobas |
| author_facet | Manuel Ângelo Rodrigues João Ilídio Lopes Sandra Martins Cátia Brito Carlos Manuel Correia Margarida Arrobas |
| author_sort | Manuel Ângelo Rodrigues |
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| description | Biological nitrogen (N) fixation has been advocated in agricultural fields due to being considered a more sustainable way to introduce N into agrosystems than industrial N fertilizers. In this study, a foliar spray inoculant containing the microorganism <i>Methylobacterium symbioticum</i> was applied. This microorganism is known for fixing N in the phyllosphere, regardless of the cultivated species. This study was conducted in three rainfed olive orchards over three years. In two orchards managed according to European Union (EU) integrated production rules, the experiment was organized as a factorial design with inoculant (applied at two levels, yes and no) and N fertilization (applied to the soil at three levels, 0, 40, and 80 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> of N). The third trial, managed according to EU organic farming rules, was organized in a completely randomized design with three treatments: with (yes) and without (no) inoculant and with a treatment involving a seaweed extract, also for foliar application. The microbiological inoculant did not consistently influence olive yield or N concentration in leaves across the three trials. Conversely, N application to the soil significantly influenced N concentration in leaves and olive yield. In one of the trials, in the third year of the study, soil N application (80 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) resulted in an olive yield of ~eight times higher than the unfertilized control treatment. The seaweed extract also did not lead to significant differences in leaf mineral composition or olive yield compared with the other treatments. These findings from the on-farm research highlight the importance of accurately determining the conditions under which commercial products can deliver effective results. It is crucial to acknowledge that these products involve expenses not only in their acquisition but also in their application. |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj-art-85957779724f4ab5adbfd785d582e65d2025-01-24T13:34:42ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-01-011118010.3390/horticulturae11010080A Spray Foliar Containing <i>Methylobacterium symbioticum</i> Did Not Increase Nitrogen Concentration in Leaves or Olive Yield Across Three Rainfed Olive OrchardsManuel Ângelo Rodrigues0João Ilídio Lopes1Sandra Martins2Cátia Brito3Carlos Manuel Correia4Margarida Arrobas5Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, PortugalComissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte, I.P.—Polo de Inovação de Mirandela (Quinta do Valongo), Carvalhais, 5370-087 Mirandela, PortugalCentre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, PortugalCentre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, PortugalCentre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, PortugalCentro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, PortugalBiological nitrogen (N) fixation has been advocated in agricultural fields due to being considered a more sustainable way to introduce N into agrosystems than industrial N fertilizers. In this study, a foliar spray inoculant containing the microorganism <i>Methylobacterium symbioticum</i> was applied. This microorganism is known for fixing N in the phyllosphere, regardless of the cultivated species. This study was conducted in three rainfed olive orchards over three years. In two orchards managed according to European Union (EU) integrated production rules, the experiment was organized as a factorial design with inoculant (applied at two levels, yes and no) and N fertilization (applied to the soil at three levels, 0, 40, and 80 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> of N). The third trial, managed according to EU organic farming rules, was organized in a completely randomized design with three treatments: with (yes) and without (no) inoculant and with a treatment involving a seaweed extract, also for foliar application. The microbiological inoculant did not consistently influence olive yield or N concentration in leaves across the three trials. Conversely, N application to the soil significantly influenced N concentration in leaves and olive yield. In one of the trials, in the third year of the study, soil N application (80 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) resulted in an olive yield of ~eight times higher than the unfertilized control treatment. The seaweed extract also did not lead to significant differences in leaf mineral composition or olive yield compared with the other treatments. These findings from the on-farm research highlight the importance of accurately determining the conditions under which commercial products can deliver effective results. It is crucial to acknowledge that these products involve expenses not only in their acquisition but also in their application.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/1/80plant biostimulant<i>Olea europaea</i>nitrogen fertilizationorganic farmingintegrated productionseaweed extract |
| spellingShingle | Manuel Ângelo Rodrigues João Ilídio Lopes Sandra Martins Cátia Brito Carlos Manuel Correia Margarida Arrobas A Spray Foliar Containing <i>Methylobacterium symbioticum</i> Did Not Increase Nitrogen Concentration in Leaves or Olive Yield Across Three Rainfed Olive Orchards Horticulturae plant biostimulant <i>Olea europaea</i> nitrogen fertilization organic farming integrated production seaweed extract |
| title | A Spray Foliar Containing <i>Methylobacterium symbioticum</i> Did Not Increase Nitrogen Concentration in Leaves or Olive Yield Across Three Rainfed Olive Orchards |
| title_full | A Spray Foliar Containing <i>Methylobacterium symbioticum</i> Did Not Increase Nitrogen Concentration in Leaves or Olive Yield Across Three Rainfed Olive Orchards |
| title_fullStr | A Spray Foliar Containing <i>Methylobacterium symbioticum</i> Did Not Increase Nitrogen Concentration in Leaves or Olive Yield Across Three Rainfed Olive Orchards |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Spray Foliar Containing <i>Methylobacterium symbioticum</i> Did Not Increase Nitrogen Concentration in Leaves or Olive Yield Across Three Rainfed Olive Orchards |
| title_short | A Spray Foliar Containing <i>Methylobacterium symbioticum</i> Did Not Increase Nitrogen Concentration in Leaves or Olive Yield Across Three Rainfed Olive Orchards |
| title_sort | spray foliar containing i methylobacterium symbioticum i did not increase nitrogen concentration in leaves or olive yield across three rainfed olive orchards |
| topic | plant biostimulant <i>Olea europaea</i> nitrogen fertilization organic farming integrated production seaweed extract |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/1/80 |
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