Perenial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) yield as a response to fitoregulators produced in digestates

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect on ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) as a response tophytoregulators produced in digestates obtained from the anaerobic digestion of cow manure, at different initial Ph.Design / methodology: Anaerobic cow manure digestions were set up at differentinitial 5, 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5 pH values and 4, 8 and 20 days of digestion, from these, gibberellic acid (AG 3 ) and indole acetic acid (IAA) were quantified. Thesedigestates were applied to ryegrass grown in containers: on 6 months pasturesapplying all the digestates and in 45 days pastures digestates at 4 days of digestion. The assessed variables were height, fresh and dry weight and number of. The control was developed on unfertilized soil. Results: The initial pH of the digestion influenced the production ofphytoregulators, being higher at pH 5.5 and 6.5; no IAA production was recorded atbasic pH. The application of the digestates had a different effect depending on thepastures age, was greater on the leaf weight variable. In 6 months pastures the increase was between 21 and 24%, in young pastures from 48 to 115% respect to the control. Likewise, there were between 50 and 60% greater number of stems than in the control, applying digestate at 4 days of digestion.Limitations / Implications: The study took place on ryegrass, it would be of interest in the area to evaluate it in other crops .Findings / Conclusions: The initial manure pH has a higher effect on the digestates properties the those of the time of digestion. Digestates can be a fertilizer for ryegrass, its effect is better in young grasses. The digestate even with 4 days of digestion has a positive effect on ryegrass development.