Evaluación de un fertilizante orgánico combinado en el desarrollo de dos especies vegetales bajo condiciones controladas

Abstract

The increase in crop demand has driven the increasing use of high doses of chemical fertilizers, generating an over-reliance on agriculture and triggering various environmental problems. The present research evaluates the impact of a combined organic fertilizer on the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) in a controlled environment. The liquid fertilizer, based on the JADAM method from vicuña manure, was dosed in three combinations (FVD25%, FVD50%, and FVD75%) with different proportions of organic and chemical fertilizers (DAP 16-48-00) using a completely randomized design. Physicochemical characterization of the biofertilizer was conducted, prioritizing micro- and macronutrients and a microbiological characterization using the serial dilution method to quantify colony-forming units (CFUs) and metagenomic sequencing for fungi and bacteria. A total of 60 plants were evaluated for height, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight for each treatment. In addition, each treatment conducted an economic analysis based on the cost/benefit ratio. The results revealed that the biofertilizer exhibits microbiological diversity crucial for plant growth with a pH of 5.1 and micro- and macronutrient concentrations within the NTE INEN 211:98 normative limits. Lettuce responded positively, highlighting the FVD25% dose as optimal, while radish showed a homogeneous response to all concentrations. The benefit/cost analysis indicated that all three treatments are cost-effective, with a net gain representing a return of 75%. In conclusion, using this combined organic biofertilizer is beneficial for the growth of lettuce and radish, presenting a sustainable and profitable alternative in agriculture.