@misc{10481/106800,
year = {2025},
month = {9},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10481/106800},
abstract = {Improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) is a key objective in sustainable
agriculture, particularly for leafy vegetables such as lettuce, which require high N
inputs. Biostimulants offer a promising strategy for enhancing crop performance
while reducing fertilizer dependency. In this study, we evaluated the effects of
three amino acid-based biostimulants, Pepton 85/16, Pepton Origin, and
Nutriterra, on lettuce growth and NUE under three N fertilization levels (100%,
70%, and 40% of the recommended dose). All biostimulants improved shoot
biomass, leaf area, and physiological performance, including photosynthetic rate
(A) and key N assimilation parameters. Nutriterra was the most effective under full
N supply, enhancing both productivity and water use efficiency (WUE) while
reducing leaf nitrate concentration, contributing to improved crop quality. Under
N-limited conditions, Pepton 85/16 consistently outperformed the other
products, especially at 70% N, where it restored and even exceeded the
biomass levels observed under optimal N. This effect was associated with
enhanced nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) activity,
increased protein and amino acid concentrations, and higher organic N levels.
While Pepton Origin also showed beneficial effects under N limitation, its impact
was less pronounced. Overall, the targeted use of these biostimulants represents
an effective strategy for maintaining productivity and reducing synthetic N
fertilization in lettuce cultivation systems.},
organization = {Spanish Ministry of Industry and
Tourism (grant reference PERTE 494 PAG-020100-2023-125)},
publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation},
keywords = {Amino acids},
keywords = {biostimulants},
keywords = {humic acids},
title = {Physiological efficacy of the amino acid-based biostimulants Pepton 85/16, Pepton origin, and Nutriterra in lettuce grown under optimal and reduced synthetic nitrogen fertilization},
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2025.1645768},
author = {Atero Calvo, Santiago and Navarro León, Eloy and Polo, Javier and Ruiz Sáez, Juan Manuel},
}