Abstract

MONARES-GALLARDO, Isidro et al. Particle size and application time of fishmeal (Plecostomus spp.) in production of zucchini. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2012, vol.30, n.2, pp.147-155. ISSN 2395-8030.

The pez diablo (Plecostomus spp.) is considered as invasive specie in El Infiernillo reservoir. To control fish population alternatives have been studied; one of these options is the use of the fish meal as organic fertilizer. The interaction between the size of particle and anticipated application before sowing for greenhouse zucchini production was evaluated during the months of March to July, 2008, in Jiquilpan, Michoacan. A factorial design was used with random distribution of fifteen treatments according to the interaction of these two factors, and the control treatment fertilized with 100% nitrogen using urea base. The analyzed response variables were percent germination, number of leaves, plant fresh weight, yield and fruit diameter and length. There was no difference in seed germination between the control and the organic fertilizer treatment using different particle sizes, but with application of fish meal 56 days before seedtime, germination was statistically higher 23.5% (P ≤ 0.05) than application 28 and zero days before sowing. Leaf number in the check treatment was statistically equal to that in most of the fish meal treatments and higher in the treatments with particle sizes between 0.84-1.19 and 0.5-0.84 mm. There was no statistical difference in fresh weight (P = 0.167) between the control (395 g) and the plants fertilized fish meal of different particle sizes (359 g) when fish meal was applied at seedtime (426.9 g). Among the fish meal fertilizer treatments plants fertilized 28 days before seeding (322 g) statistical differences were found. The plants fertilized with the organic fertilizer using different particle sizes and time of application, compared with chemical fertilization, registered high fruit yield in the first 18 days, but the yields were similar at the end of the crop cycle.

Keywords : organic installment; interaction size-time; invasive species.

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